Maker And Producer (sustainable textiles)

Alex Begg draws on a century and a half of weaving expertise. The mill combines time-honoured traditional weaving and finishing methods, while embracing innovation with cutting edge production techniques. In October of 2018, Alex Begg sustainability manager, Ian Whiteford began working with Glasgow based artist, Myra Ostacchini.

Myra graduated with a BA Honours in Fine Art (2014) Glasgow School of Art M-Litt (2016) exhibiting in UK, Helsinki, Brooklyn, China, Le Guilvenic and Antwerp.

Together, they have run experimental activities, participants selecting surplus textiles with the challenge to produce garments.

Inspired by the Bauhaus Movement and The Black Mountain College (1933), the groups were randomly selected adopting a hybrid of innovation, creating a platform for knowledge exchange.

This event reveals 25 garments/costumes and 2 short films. The participating designers have supported the project with sketchbooks revealing the challenges of the work.

The project will continue in June with a social enterprise website “Maker and Producer”, providing a surplus textile marketplace and designer profiles with free downloadable patterns. We continue to document work of participating designers to learn with and learn from, creating a network producing sustainable products.