Emma 
Paisley Pattern leads the way for culture
The hometown of the Paisley Pattern, Paisley, is set to welcome top designers and creative professionals to the first ever design showcase PaisleyMake.
The four-day free event – driven by the town’s global brand and its one-time place at the centre of the world’s textile industry – is looking to inspire aspiring designers and design professionals alike from Wednesday 31 August to Saturday 3 September.
From top speakers on design and innovation to networking opportunities, Paisley Make is a unique chance to meet and engage with industry experts as part of the Festival of Creativity and Design on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 September, including:
-Director at Scottish Leather Group, James Lang
-CEO at fashion chain M&Co, Andy McGeoch
-Jimmy Stephen-Cran, Glasgow School of Art’s fashion and textiles programme leader
-Penny Martin, Editor in Chief of The Gentlewoman Magazine
-Mark Hogarth, creative director of Harris Tweed Hebrides
You can also sign-up for origami and corsage making workshops on Saturday 3rd September as part of Renfrewshire’s Doors Open Day.
Paisley’s unique Paisley Pattern collections – held in Paisley Museum – are a key driver for Paisley Make and the town’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021. It’s hoped the Paisley Pattern archive will enthuse a new generation of designers to work with Paisley’s global brand.
It’s all part of the wider conversation on commercialising Paisley’s famous pattern and reconnecting the design with its hometown.
Paisley Make takes place in the town’s magnificent Paisley Abbey – steeped in over 850 years of history and known as the ‘cradle of the Royal Stewarts’.
Scotland Re:Designed – who are organising the event with Renfrewshire Council – will also give a platform to top Scottish fashion, textiles, accessories and interiors with a specially-curated exhibition and shop.
Jean Cameron, Paisley 2021 Bid Director, said: “The Paisley Pattern is Paisley’s global brand that has inspired designers both in the past and today. That’s also what inspired Paisley Make and the fantastic free speaker events with some of the fashion world’s top experts and professionals. It’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to get into the industry to make connections and develop their knowledge.
“It’s also about reconnecting the Paisley Pattern back to its hometown – Paisley – and starting a wider conversation with fashion, textiles and design experts from all over world that will help the town build connections and support the development of the commercialisation of the Paisley Pattern.
“It will help Paisley put it back into the international spotlight with key figures from the world of design, manufacture and education coming to Paisley to look at innovation in the town – many of whom haven’t been in the town before.
“The two-day speaker sessions are part of a bigger event that includes workshops, family fun and networking opportunities for professionals. It is part of the push towards Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 and is expected to inspire and develop creativity, encourage local designers and create business opportunities in the area.”
Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 aims to transform the town and Renfrewshire’s future by using its unique cultural and heritage offering as the home of the Paisley Pattern and one-time centre of the global textile industry.
Bids are expected to be lodged with the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport in spring 2017.
The Paisley Make programme also includes hands-on workshops for young people and family-friendly fun as part of Doors Open Day and networking opportunities.
To discover more about Paisley and the PaisleyMake event please visit the website www.paisleymake.com
Or
Twitter: @PaisleyMake
Facebook: /PaisleyMake
Instagram: paisley_make
