The textile creatives turning trash into treasure

Published: 29 Sep 2022

On left: Christopher McEvoy image by Otago Street Studio. Right: Siobhan McKenna by Tom Barr.

Scottish designers are at the forefront of an innovative new project creating covetable pieces, ready to wear, from one another’s studio trash.

A collaborative exercise in sustainability, the new STUDIO FLOOR project is scheduled to launch on 6 October, spearheaded by ReJean Denim founder, Siobhan McKenna and award-winning couture weaver, Christopher McEvoy who hope to inspire fellow fashion designers find ways to keep unwanted clothing out of landfill and help tackle the UK fashion industry's 350,000 tonnes a year textile waste problem.

McKenna explains: “I’m very passionate about reducing waste and making a positive impact in the world of fashion by recycling rather than buying new textiles. This was the main driving force behind the establishment of ReJean in 2018. Now I’m keen to get started on this new project and show what can be achieved with just creativity and studio waste.”

Culminating in the creation of a one-of-a-kind 20-piece collection, McEvoy adds, “I’ll be devising woven and textile concepts from the materials quite literally left over on the ReJean studio floor, repurposing cast offs to create beautiful new garments.” He added, “It’s kind of a creative conversation between two studio floors, recycling each other’s waste to create new objects with purpose and value.”

The pair plan to share the collection through a public exhibition, host workshops and panel discussions and curate a print/e-magazine encouraging sustainability in the creative practice of others and inviting practitioners to contribute to the conversation of waste and circularity innovation in Scotland. Follow along on Instagram @_studiofloor.

STUDIO FLOOR is one of 72 recipients receiving a total of £1,494,541 National Lottery funding in this latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards.

At a glance, projects include:

• The Adopt a Music Creator Scotland programme which matches leisure-time choirs, bands, orchestras and ensembles with a music creator for a year, leading to a premiere performance, recording and radio broadcast.
• Wigtownshire’s new, two week long MaD (Making And Doing) Festival of Creativity (12 – 25 November), open to all and featuring inspiring and engaging themed workshops, talks and demonstrations.
• Covid: Aid’s Taking Art Home collaboration with Art in Healthcare to develop participatory creative activities that better meet the specific needs of adults with compromised immunity or living with longer-term health conditions and for whom society ‘opening up’ post Covid, presents challenges.

Paul Burns, Interim Deputy Director of Arts & Engagement at Creative Scotland said: “Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise over £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, this month sees support for another diverse array of innovative Open Fund projects creating opportunities and experiences for people of all ages across Scotland.”

Download the full list of Open Fund recipients

Open Fund awards August 2022

Download the Open Fund awards for August 2022 (.xlsx)

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Background

Open Fund

• In August 2022, Creative Scotland’s Open Fund made 72 funding awards, totalling £1,494,541
• The Open Fund has no deadlines, and full eligibility criteria and application guidance can be found on the Creative Scotland website.

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot

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