The Textile Creatives turning Trash into Treasure

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 social media at @_studiofloor (Instagram).

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.”

The full list of Open Fund recipients in this round is available on Creative Scotland’s website.