The Costume Society and Heritage Crafts have joined forces to launch two training bursaries and the Fashion and Textile Maker of the Year Award.
The Costume Society and Heritage Crafts have joined forces to launch two training bursaries to ensure that new and early-career fashion textile makers have the skills they need to succeed.
Many people are dissuaded from training in the hand skills of fashion textiles because of the cost, and therefore the make-up of the sector is not truly representative of the UK as a whole. This bursary has been set up to help cover or subsidise the training of someone who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost. They could be just starting out on your journey in fashion textiles, or at the point where they want to turn a hobby into a career, or they could already be a maker or designer who is looking to further develop their hand skills.
Fashion textile crafts can include, but are not limited to, dressmaking, tailoring, pattern cutting, hat making, millinery, glovemaking, fabric pleating, corset making, etc. Applications for training that prioritises the acquisition of practical hand skills will be favoured over training that is predominantly theoretical or design-oriented.
The two successful applicants will benefit from up to £4,000 in funding each, and be supported by the Heritage Crafts team to help them achieve their aims. For more information on how to apply for the bursaries (the first round of bursaries had a deadline 23 February 2024) visit our dedicated website page.
Earlier this year we were happy to announce our first three fashion textile makers (Mia Brennan, Maya Howes and Katie Sawyer) who received a bursary. You can read more about their journey on our dedicated blog post here.
The Fashion and Textile Maker of the Year Award:
This award celebrates a heritage craftsperson who has made an outstanding contribution to fashion textile crafts within the previous 12 months (since 1 July 2023). It recognises a contribution that is far beyond the ordinary, based on a proven dedication to a particular fashion textile skill. We expect this to be someone who demonstrates the highest level of craft skill and is held in high regard amongst their peers.
The award is open to practitioners of any fashion textile craft. Examples include (but are not limited to) dressmaking, tailoring, pattern cutting, hat making, millinery, glovemaking, fabric pleating, corsetry, weaving of fabrics specifically for fashion garments etc. Nominations that demonstrate practical hand skills will be favoured over those that are predominantly design-oriented.
Anyone, including the maker themselves, can nominate for this award. Finalists will be expected to attend the high-profile Winners’ Reception in November 2024.
For more information on how to apply for the bursaries (the deadline is 6 September 2024) visit our dedicated website page.
