HWU School of Textiles and Design Launches Creative Hub

State of the art Hub For Fashion Designers

A new creative hub which offers state-of-the-art studio and workshop space for textile, fashion designers and visual artists has launched at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design.
resource

The hub, known as resource, allows subscribers to use world-class facilities and equipment and gives them access to technical expertise from the school’s staff and industry partners, based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.

The 18 month subscription allows the use of all technical facilities within the department from laser cutting, screen and digital print, weave and knit to a fully-equipped clothing workshop, Mac Lab and access to specialist technicians. Subscribers also benefit from a 50% reduction in the rates payable for use of the facilities and technician time.

The hub will also be useful to visual artists and other designer/makers as it allows them to create new work using textiles techniques. For example, a visual artist recently used the laser cutter for mark making on Japanese paper and a sculptor plans to use the print room to produce fabrics.

Fiona Waldron, Head of Heriot-Watt University's School of Textiles & Design, said: “We believe this to be first creative hub of its kind in the UK. We hope that designers, artists and makers take up the opportunity to subscribe and to develop their ideas, practice using new materials, techniques and equipment which otherwise might not be available to them.

“We aim to foster and provide a supportive environment through informal peer and professional mentoring.”

resource, a partnership project between Scottish Borders Council’s Arts Development team and Heriot-Watt University, is supported by Creative Scotland and Borders College.

Textile artist Helen Hastings, a new subscriber to resource, has recently attended one of the Heriot-Watt summer schools to extend her skills in screen-printing and as a subscriber, benefited from a 20% discount. She said: “I have tried so many new techniques and feel I have gained a good grounding, so I hope that I will be able to make the most of whatever resource can offer in the longer term. I have already found the library to be very useful, inspiring and helpful.”

Heriot Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design at the Scottish Borders Campus, is internationally recognised as a hub for innovation and research in textiles, fashion and design, with unrivalled facilities.