Yarns, a two-day fashion and textile industry conference will take place this Friday, 18th and Saturday, 19th November in the Northwest, offering expert advice and practical workshops for budding designers and those who work in the fashion and textile sector.
Hosted by Donegal County Council in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Yarns Conference will take place in locations across Derry and Donegal. The event will celebrate the strength and heritage of the fashion and textile industry in the Northwest of Ireland while providing a unique opportunity for businesses to gain exclusive insight while networking with peers.
To view the full programme of events and to book your place at the various events for free, visit www.donegalleo.com/yarns/
Yarns, a two-day fashion and textile industry conference will take place this Friday, 18th and Saturday, 19th November in venues around Derry and Donegal. Pictured (l-r) at the launch are John O’Hara, Creative Coast Donegal, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Michael Naughton, Grace Korbel, Assistant Head of Enterprise Donegal, Deirdre Williams, Fashion & Textile Design Centre, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy, Head of Enterprise Donegal, Brenda Hegarty, Leeann Doherty, Derry City and Strabane District Council, and Charlene Lourens Griffiths, Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The cross-border initiative from Creative Coast Donegal and Local Enterprise Office Donegal will include practical workshops and consultations from a range of industry experts, as well as local success stories and advice for participants. Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Michael Naughton, commented on Yarns saying: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Derry City and Strabane District Council on this unique celebration of the northwest’s textile heritage. This event is a great opportunity for designers who want to kick-start their career, or who are looking for practical business advice with regards to trading online, marketing or sustainability. An event like this could be the start of someone’s dream career.”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy, added to this saying: “I am delighted that we are collaborating with Donegal County Council for Yarns. Fashion, textiles and clothing production is a huge part of our heritage here in the Northwest, and we have some of the most talented, innovative, and skilled designers and makers in Ireland. I would encourage anyone within the industry to register for the free workshops and gain exclusive advice. Whether you’re just starting out, or have been in the industry for a while, this is a fantastic opportunity to refresh your mind set and learn new skills as we move into a more digital world.”
Join Aideen Bodkin, Chris Weiniger, Maria Couchman and Bridie Mullin for the launch of Yarns in The Playhouse Theatre this Friday, 18th November.
Across the two days, events will take place in The Playhouse Theatre and The Fashion and Textile Design Centre in Derry, as well as the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. The conference will kick off this Friday, 18th November with the Official Launch of Yarns which will take place at 9am in the Playhouse Theatre, Derry-Londonderry. At 10.30am, the ‘Crafting a Creative Story Workshop’ with Aideen Bodkin from A-Line design will take place, where Aideen will discuss the importance of promoting locally made fashion and textiles. Next on the agenda in the Playhouse Theatre is ‘Navigating the Production Process’ with Orla Ward and Deirdre Wild of Bottummy from 1.30pm, followed by a ‘Practical Bag Making and EcoSystem Mapping’ workshop with Deirdre Lane of Shamrock Spring in the Fashion and Textile Design Centre.
On Friday evening, one-to-one expert consultations will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre in which leading figures from Ireland’s fashion and textile industry, Deirdre McQuillan, Sonya Lennon, Aisling Farinella and Paula Hughes will meet with selected fashion and textile businesses based in the Northwest to support the development of their brand and enable further business growth.
Commenting on the event, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal said: “I would encourage entrepreneurs in the fashion and textile industry and budding designers here in the Northwest to take advantage of this fantastic two-day conference and attend as many of the workshops as they can. The events such as the one-to-one consultations are a great opportunity to network and connect with some of Ireland’s leading figures in the industry and improve your business based on advice from the experts. You can express your interest for a one-to-one consultation on the LEO Donegal website.”
Find out how to navigate the production process with Orla Ward and Deirdre Wild and learn about practical bag making and ecosystem mapping with Deirdre Lane as part of the two-day Yarns conference.
Find out how to navigate the production process with Orla Ward and Deirdre Wild and learn about practical bag making and ecosystem mapping with Deirdre Lane as part of the two-day Yarns conference.
This Saturday, 19th November in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, a one-day seminar celebrating and promoting the strength and heritage of the fashion and textile industry in the Northwest will provide a unique opportunity for businesses to gain insights and network with industry experts. The event begins at 10am and attendees will hear keynote presentations delivered by industry experts, panel discussions with high profile figures and local success stories, and opportunities to network with other creatives in the fashion and textiles industry.
Yarns has been organised and made possible by the Creative Coast Donegal initiative of the Local Enterprise Office of Donegal County Council, in conjunction with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Creative Ireland, and the Shared Island Initiative. To view the full programme of events and to book your place at the various events for free, visit www.donegalleo.com/yarns/
Tags: