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.

Campaign for Wool

The Textiles Technologies Project is focussing on wool issues to make designers, manufacturers and consumers aware of the benefits of wool as a fibre and is currently backing Prince Charles’ Campaign for Wool, which is a five-year project hoping to bring wool back into fashion and address the falling prices offered to farmers for fleeces.
When we attended the Llandovery Sheep Festival, we carried out a feasibility study with the public and farmers to get their opinions about the British wool industry and how it could be improved. Many farmers admitted to discarding the sheared fleeces rather than selling it on because of the low prices they are paid.
A number of companies signing-up to the project have been trying to source Welsh wool to use in their products, but have been unsuccessful. We felt that this needed further research and we are hoping that if we gather enough evidence, we will be in a strong position to set up a major project at the college dedicated entirely to wool and its potential uses.

Top 2 Toe Supreme

Sharon Parr owns and runs Top 2 Toe Supreme based in Ceredigion. Sharon produces and sells bespoke tweed garments and classic show riding wear.

The Textiles Technologies Project is assisting Sharon with developing a new collection of children's wear garments using the pattern cutting skills and Gerber Accumark grading technology, within the project. The work which has been carried out so far is proving to be very successful with the new garments, and the company, increasing in popularity.

Sebold's Originals

Sebold's Originals, design and make, one piece, felt products from 100% Merino wool. Using a traditional process it takes time and skill to make a one piece, felt item. The various items in the range can take from several hours, up to a day or two, to make.

Ingo Hans and Rhian Wyn Rushton, who own Sebold's Originals, were interested in the proto typing are of the Textiles Technologies Project, as they want to create a sewn version of their characters.