National Festival of Making Talks 2022: Material Matters
31 May 2022 by Ed
A series of extended roundtables conversations with artists, makers, thought leaders and educators to discuss the opportunities for circular design in craft, fashion & textiles and how creatives at the forefront of a global movement for change are establishing better ways of living, and more equitable models to encourage thriving and regenerative methods of production.
"The circular economy is one of the most relevant frameworks to tackle our current global challenges."
Carlo Capassa – Camera Nazionale della Moda Ittaliena
Makers and creators are obsessed with material. This relationship to material is key to understanding means of production, as well as how craft practitioners and we as consumers value products. Creatives are also at the forefront of a movement for change to establish better ways of living, and more equitable models to encourage thriving and regenerative methods of production. Materials really do matter!
For National Festival of Making 2022, Creative Lancashire in association with Crafts Council & Ellen MacArthur Foundation present a series of extended roundtables conversations with artists, makers, thought leaders and educators to discuss the opportunity to embed circular design in craft, fashion & textiles, and how creatives at the forefront of a global movement for change are establishing better ways of living, and more equitable models to encourage thriving and regenerative methods of production.
DOWNLOAD EVENT INFORMATION & CONTIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES
REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND
Part 1: What do we need to embed & develop an effective circular economy for craft?
The first of our roundtable conversations (with an audience), will explore how we create the conditions for makers and craft businesses to flourish whilst also addressing problems relating to the end of life of products and waste including:
- What are principles and infrastructures that will support the circular economy principles in craft practice
- What is the role of education to inform the next generation of makers and creators to consider circular design and increase the understanding of materials within the production process
- What could be the role for design thinking in designing out waste in craft production
- How can we help encourage a shift in consumers to 'cherish use - not consumption'
- What can be learned from the relationship with material & craft production in global majority communities where circular design disciplines are already embedded.
- What can be learned from related sectors and industries approaches
- Who else needs to be involved
The session will also examine the implications for craft manufacturers, specifically who will pick up the cost of a conversion to circular processes of production and for makers creating products that last a lifetime, and that can only be sold once.
Part 2: What is the potential for circular design within fashion & textiles?
The context for the second part of roundtable conversation is informed by themes, ideas and provocations collected and presented by Ellen MacArthur Foundation in their recent Circular Design for Fashion publication which explores fashion industries huge potential to shift towards a circular economy fuelled by 'passionate disrupters on the constant search for reinvention'.
We will also look at the role of educators to reset the generation of fashion and textiles designers to embed circular economy principles to:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and
- Regenerate nature
Guest Contributors:
For both conversations we bring together individuals drawn from the fashion and textiles industry, educators, and practitioners developing the new models and ideas to encourage a shift to a more circular industry for those who design, produce and consume products including:
Jonathan Ball - Designmine
Harrison Wavell - Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Donna Claypool - Bolton School of Art
Helen Brook - SAIL
Laurie Peake - Super Slow Way
Mark Thistlethwaite - UCBC Blackburn College
Rosy Greenlees - Crafts Council
Tom Macpherson-Pope - The Making Rooms
Victoria Scholes - NWCN & Glass Artist
Nicky Dewar - Crafts Council
Peg Alexander - Journalist
Christina Collins - UCBC Blackburn College
David Chadwick - Carradice & UPSO
Harrison Wavell - Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Jenny Whisker - Community Clothing
Justine Aldersey-Williams - NW Fibreshed
Pammi Sinha - Textile Institute
Simon Attard - Panaz
Click here for line-up full list of contributors
"The circular economy can take us beyond simply trying to do less harm - it is a bigger idea, one that has the power to inspire a new generation of designers. It is an opportunity to create a fashion industry that is part of the solution to challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, and an industry that can thrive in the long term." Sara Sozzani Maino – Head of Vogue Talent
Agenda
09.25 Registration (Tea & Coffee Served)
09.55 Roundtable 1 - What do we need to embed & develop an effective circular economy for craft?
11.10 Comfort Break (Tea & Coffee Served)
11.30 Roundtable 2 - What is the potential for circular design within fashion & textiles?
12.45 Closing Remarks
Registration
The Materials Matter extended roundtables are FREE to attend - Register on the Eventbrite page to confirm your place.
All images copyright Richard Tymon - National Festival of Making Talks 2019 (Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery)
