Textiles as a language of collaboration - Seher Mirza and Kirsty McDougall

The Art Workers’ Guild is a body of more than 400 artists, craftspeople and architects working at the highest levels of excellence in their professions. Founded in 1884 by young architects and designers, its principle of ‘learning by doing’ has spread through arts education and has had a worldwide influence. A respect for quality, for craftsmanship, for the work of the hand, and a recognition of the healing, humane value of craftsmanship still characterises the Guild.

The Art Workers' Guild

The practice of textiles can take many shapes and forms. The discussion will range from power narratives in collaborative textile-making with indigenous communities to working within the framework of the fashion, interiors, art and science sectors. Can shared language in making transcend other differences and how are ethical and sustainable considerations integrated into collaborative textile production?Dr Seher Mirza is a design practitioner, researcher, and facilitator. She received her PhD in textiles from the Royal College of Art in 2020. Seher has an MA in Ethical Fashion from UCA and a BA (Hons) in Textile Design (weave) from Central Saint Martins UAL. In 2011 she founded S jo, a social business that conceptualised and collaboratively built traditional textile techniques into statement accessories and jewellery, alongside her PhD project in rural Sindh, Pakistan. These collections have been sold at the V&A and the Whitworth Art gallery (Manchester) among other retailers. Seher divides her time between working on collaborative projects with indigenous craft communities and, researching and writing about power and privilege in making practices where social, material and design contexts meet. Kirsty McDougall has worked in textile design for 18 years, beginning as a freelance designer for the fashion and interiors industries. She co-founded Dashing Tweeds in 2006, where she designs seasonal fabric collections and liaises with manufacturers. Kirsty co-founded Rare Thread in 2017 and continues to work globally across many sectors on woven textiles, consultancy and creative projects. She has an expressive and painterly approach utilising multiple techniques and materials. She is a versatile and adaptive designer who loves problem solving and working in collaboration with others.Kirsty has taught for many years on BA and MA courses including running the Weave Department at the Royal College of Art for 3 years. Research interests include the application of new technologies to woven structures, localised supply chains and manufacture and collaborative design process.

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