Archive on Tour! SDC Textile Archive at WOVEN 2025
Archive on Tour!
Celebrating Textile Heritage: SDC Textile Archive at WOVEN 2025
Summer 2025 marked the return of WOVEN, the vibrant, biennial festival that celebrates the rich textile heritage and forward-thinking innovation of the Kirklees region. First launched in 2019, WOVEN has quickly grown into a key fixture in the cultural calendar of West Yorkshire—and this year, it came back bigger, bolder, and more collaborative than ever before. WOVEN is an initiative originally sparked by Kirklees Council, but it truly belongs to the people. From community groups and local textile businesses to artists, educational institutions, and heritage sites, WOVEN is co-created by a wide network of partners who all share a commitment to honouring the past and shaping the future of textiles in the district.
A Festival of Generations
This year’s theme, “Generations of Innovators”, perfectly captured the spirit of the festival—celebrating the legacy of textile pioneers while highlighting the modern innovations emerging from the region. From cutting-edge university research and sustainable design practices to the creative output of today’s makers and the diverse voices of local communities, WOVEN 2025 showcased it all. Although the main events take place every other June, the energy of WOVEN is sustained year-round through smaller community projects, school programmes, and long-term initiatives. It’s a festival that plants seeds, nurtures creativity, and strengthens the cultural fabric of Kirklees well beyond a single month.
SDC at WOVEN Textile Heritage Day
Among the many events on the WOVEN calendar, the Textile Heritage Day on June 21st was a real highlight—particularly for the SDC Textile Archive, who were thrilled to be invited to participate. Hosted at the beautiful Tolson Museum in Huddersfield, the day brought together a wealth of organisations and passionate individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting textile history.
Joining forces with esteemed colleagues from the Skelmanthorpe Textile Heritage Centre, The Knitting & Crochet Guild, Colne Valley Museum, University of Huddersfield, Heritage Quays, Westminster Archives, and other expert demonstrators, the SDC team proudly set up a colourful and engaging display that honoured Kirklees’ rich textile legacy.
A Red Dress with a Story to Tell
One of the highlights of our exhibit was the striking Mrs Everest’s red dress—a beautifully preserved 1920s-style silk evening gown, used historically to showcase the skill and artistry of local dyeing techniques. Believed to have been worn by the wife of a prominent dyehouse owner to formal dinners and functions in the mid-20th century, the dress drew admiration from visitors throughout the day. With its rich colour and elegant construction, it served as a visual reminder of the region’s reputation for textile excellence.
In addition to the dress, we showcased a curated selection of objects linked to the industrial textile past of the area—each with its own story, each sparking memories and conversations from visitors who had themselves worked in the industry or grown up around it.
A Day of Shared Stories and New Connections
The response from attendees was truly heartening. We were especially pleased to welcome so many of our SDC members, who travelled to be part of the event, and to meet a host of new faces from the local community. Many visitors shared vivid recollections of working in dyehouses, mills, and design studios—an oral history that added a powerful human dimension to the objects on display.
The event wasn’t just about looking back, however. It was also a wonderful opportunity to build new connections with fellow archives, institutions, and heritage partners. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the wider exhibitions at Tolson Museum, which houses a fascinating collection that complements our own archival work and mission.
Looking Ahead
Being part of WOVEN 2025 has been a truly enriching experience for the SDC Textile Archive. Events like this reaffirm the importance of our work in preserving textile history and sharing it with new audiences, while also inspiring us with the creativity and enthusiasm of the next generation of innovators.
We’re already looking forward to WOVEN 2027—and to continuing the conversations, collaborations, and community connections sparked this summer.
