Future Textiles

Future Textiles Dumfries House and Future Textiles London are textile education programme offering no cost workshops for pupils, teachers, professionals & those seeking employment

Future Textiles at Dumfries House is an exciting project, currently ongoing at stately home Dumfries House in Ayrshire, in collaboration with Glasgow Clyde College (Cardonald Campus) and Ayrshire College. The project was initiated by HRH The Duke of Rothesay who listened closely to the needs of the textile industry who wish to address a skills gap.

The project brings together industry and education in a unique setting, in order to train the next generation with skills for the textile industry, by providing a range of no cost workshops suitable for secondary school teachers, pupils and those seeking employability skills.

To date, over 350 participants have taken part in sewing, pattern drafting and woven textiles workshops, from secondary teachers to pupils from S1 – S6, as well as an embroidery masterclass & two specialised sector academy programmes.

The project has received invaluable input since inception from local and national industry with vital support & advice from Marks & Spencer, Sarah Mower OBE, Tammy & Christopher Kane, John Lewis Partnership, Savile Row Tailor Patrick Grant as well as other local and national textile manufacturers.

The local industry in East Ayrshire currently has twenty textile related companies with workforce consisting of 45% male and 55% female employees. Many of the companies are considering recruiting modern apprentices and participation in the workshops will allow pupils a greater understanding of industry requirements.