How many textile designers, artists or practitioners can you name who are Black, Asian, from Ethnic Minorities, identify as LGBTQI+, or living with a disability?
Textiles is a multifaceted discipline with a profound historical connection to international trade, social identities and culture. It is also a global industry at the intersection of growing economies, technological advancements and design innovation. Yet, academia and the textiles industry in Britain today by and large have floundered to acknowledge the broader social and cultural contexts of the discipline.
This project sets out to celebrate distinguished textile designers, artists and practitioners who have otherwise been under-represented within curriculums and the history of textiles. We aim to highlight textiles’ broad histories, producers, and purposes through the Diverse Voices in Textiles initiative. We hope to build a considered, inclusive and diverse agenda to advance the conversation in textiles and amplify the voices of those it serves.
The creation of this accessible digital resource sets out to enrich and enhance our students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject, bringing critical stories to the forefront.
We lead to inspire and generate opportunities beneficial to students and academics at Loughborough, but also across the Textile industry and education sector.