NICE New Wool Friends in Oslo!

We have made friends with NICE (Nordic, Initiative Clean, Ethical) Fashion and their wool project. Check out www.nicefashion.org for some great projects and work being done on wool and sustainable and ethical design.

The TTP goes to Lithuania!

The Textiles Technologies Project were contacted by one of their clients at the end of July 2011 to invite their Project Officer in Manufacturing, Hannah Wright, to an all expenses paid trip to their manufacturing facilities in Alytus, Lithuania. Hannah was able to see at first hand the results of the pattern cutting and proto typing work she has carried out for them through the Textiles Technologies Project.

Hannah was given a guided tour of the factory, and was shown, in depth, the different departments of the factory which included their pattern cutting room, CAD room, sublimated printing facilities as well as their main production area. Hannah was also given the chance to see how the factory processes their orders into organized production schedules so that they can successfully meet their clients requested arrival dates.

TTP's Hannah and Suzi meeting HRH Prince of Wales

On the 1st March 2011, two members of the Textiles Technologies Project team were invited by the chairman of the Cambrian Mountains Company Ltd, to meet HRH Prince Charles at a reception lunch in the King’s Head, Llandovery. HRH the Prince of Wales is President and the inspiration behind the Cambrian Mountains Initiative, which aims to ensure a sustainable future for the heartland of rural Wales through increasing income from local produce, tourism, and ecosystem services, underpinned by a strong common brand. The reason for our invitation was in regard to the research we have been carrying out within the TTP Wool Project. The Cambrian organisation has been working with local farmers and producers to develop a range of premium branded products which include meat, beer and chocolate. The organisation is now interested in producing a product from the wool they produce and have attended both Wool seminars that the TTP team have recently held. The Textiles Technologies Project is currently in discussions as to how we can help develop a product with the technologies and expertise we have available within our project.

Wales' First 24 Hour Eco Event

Wales' First 24 hour Eco Event
The first 24 hour eco event will be taking place on Friday the 18th of February 2011, at 10am in Trinity St. Davids University Carmarthen. The TTP will be there in the afternoon from 2.30pm till 5pm speaking with businesses and members of the Welsh Assembly Government about their attitudes to sustainable business. Students from Fashion, Scupture, Fine Art and Photography at Coleg Sir Gar will be hosting a swishing and up-cycling event from 6pm till 9.30pm and the event will be going on throughout the night with musicians, artists and poets to mark the occasion. Please come along for as long as you want, as it promises to be an exciting 24 hours! For further information contact orla.ocarroll@colegsirgar.ac.uk

Wool Seminar

The TTP will be holding two events focusing on wool and the British Wool Industry. Our first event will be in the National Botanical Gardens of Wales in Carmarthenshire on the 17th of March 2011, and the second event will be in the CAT Centre in Machynlleth on the 30th of March 2011. We will be inviting designers, sheep farmers, architects, artists, construction companies and anyone with an interest in wool and the industry to be part of the audience and be part of the seminar.

There will lots of opportunities for networking, including one to one partnership networking. We will also be hearing from companies who use wool in exciting and innovative ways and speakers on the future of the industry. Come and have your say to help ensure the future of the wool industry!

Graphic Arts in Manufacture ECO Design event

Our next GAIM (Graphic Arts In Manufacture) Sustainable Design and ECO event is on Monday the 13th of December from 12.30pm - 4.30pm in Jobswell Campus, Carmarthen.

Our speakers are from the Eco Design Centre in Cardiff and Menter Cwm Gwendraeth and will be speaking about cradle to cradle design and the future of our design world.

It is looking like it going to be an exciting and knowledge rich day, a great chance to bounce ideas around with like minded people and a great opportunity for networking.

If this sounds like your cup of tea then please RSVP to either myself: orla.ocarroll@colegsirgar.ac.uk or saron.jones-hughes@colegsirgar.ac.uk as soon as you can!

Hoping to see you there

Orla and Saron

GAIM R&D Team

A Passion for Wool

Hannah Wright from Swansea is from a farming background and wants to drive and promote wool as a textile. She also works on the Textiles Technology Project.

“Different sheep breeds produce varying qualities of fibre and every fleece has a use, whether it’s for high-end fashion or building insulation. It’s a complete waste to be discarding this natural resource so we’re looking for fact and figures to address the needs of farmers and industry demand to try and increase supply of the fibre in every form.”

Hannah Wright produces her own range, see below:

Hannah Wright is about traditional tailoring with a contemporary twist.

For Hannah, designing is an expression of who she is as a person. It's not about the clothes, it's about the person's lifestyle. Inspired by colours, textures and shapes, Hannah designs for the balance of comfort and luxury as well as the balance of what is practical and desirable. Farming is in Hannah Wrights genes and she wants it to enjoy being fashionable again.