Yarns Fashion and Textile Conference to Offer Expert Advice for Northwest Designers

This Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 19, in the Northwest, a two-day conference for the fashion and textile industry called Yarns will provide professional advice and useful workshops for aspiring designers and those working in the industry.

The Yarns Conference will be held in locations all over Derry and Donegal, hosted by Donegal County Council in collaboration with Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The occasion will honor the resilience and history of the fashion and textile sector in the Northwest of Ireland while giving companies a special chance to network with their peers and gain access to insider information.

The cross-border project from Local Enterprise Office Donegal and Creative Coast Donegal will feature instructive workshops and consultations from a variety of business experts, as well as local success stories and advice for participants.

Leas-Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Michael Naughton, commented on Yarns saying: “We’re honored to be working together with Derry City and Strabane District Council on this special celebration of the region’s textile history. For designers who want to launch their careers or who are looking for useful business advice with regard to online trading, marketing, or sustainability, this event is a fantastic opportunity. Someone’s dream job could begin as a result of an occasion like this.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy, added to this saying: “I’m excited about our partnership with the Donegal County Council for Yarns. We have some of Ireland’s most talented, creative, and skilled designers and makers, and fashion, textile, and clothing production plays a significant role in our heritage here in the Northwest.

Anyone working in the industry is encouraged to sign up for the free workshops and receive insider information. This is a great chance to update your mindset and pick up new skills as we transition to a more digital world, whether you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a while.”

Events will take place over the course of the two days in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, The Playhouse Theatre, and The Fashion and Textile Design Centre in Derry. The conference will begin this Friday, November 18, at 9 a.m. in the Playhouse Theatre, Derry-Londonderry, with the official launch of Yarns.

The “Crafting a Creative Story Workshop” with Aideen Bodkin from A-Line design will start at 10.30 am, and Aideen will talk about the value of promoting locally made clothing and textiles. At 1.30 pm, Orla Ward and Deirdre Wild of Bottummy will present “Navigating the Production Process” in the Playhouse Theatre.

Then, at 2 pm, Deirdre Lane of Shamrock Spring will lead a workshop on “Practical Bag Making and EcoSystem Mapping” in the Fashion and Textile Design Center.

Leading figures from Ireland’s fashion and textile industries, Deirdre McQuillan, Sonya Lennon, Aisling Farinella, and Paula Hughes, will hold one-on-one expert consultations with a select group of fashion and textile businesses based in the Northwest on Friday evening in order to support the development of their brand and facilitate further business growth.

Commenting on the event, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal said: “I urge aspiring designers and business owners in the fashion and textile sectors to take advantage of this wonderful two-day conference by attending as many of the workshops as they can.

Events like one-on-one consultations are a great way to connect with some of Ireland’s top businesspeople and improve your company by following the advice of professionals. On the LEO Donegal website, you can express your interest in a one-on-one consultation.”

A one-day seminar honoring and promoting the vitality and history of the fashion and textile industries in the Northwest will take place this Saturday, November 19, in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. This event will offer businesses a special chance to learn from and connect with industry experts.

At the event, which gets underway at 10 a.m., attendees will hear keynote speeches from professionals in the field, participate in panel discussions with well-known people and hear about local success stories, and have the chance to network with other fashion and textile industry creatives.

The Shared Island Initiative, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Creative Ireland, and the Local Enterprise Office of Donegal County Council collaborated to organize and make Yarns possible. Yarns is a project of the Creative Coast Donegal initiative.

Reference: https://www.donegaldaily.com/2022/11/14/yarns-fashion-and-textile-conference-to-offer-expert-advice-for-northwest-designers/