Molly Jackson
The Shepshed Lace Manufacturing Company
The Shepshed Lace is my final year textiles project which explores
‘The Shepshed Lace Manufacturing Company’ is a project Inspired by my grandparents, who started their early careers and met in ‘The Shepshed Lace,’ a textiles factory famous for manufacturing lace and elastic. This project aims to celebrate and honour traditions and craftmanship that have been lost over time and rediscover a once thriving industry through the exploration of my grandparents' treasured keepsakes, including lace, elastic, dye recipes and photographs.
I have been particularly interested in exploring the texture and shapes within lace and the machines it came from and how that can translate to a print design.
I have been inspired to create a collection with a personal connection and a homage to my grandparents and the memories they have shared to celebrate their life and legacy.
Research
The narrative of my project is largely based around The Shepshed Lace, a prominent manufacturer of lace and elastic operating from Loughborough from 1906 to 1989.
The machines within the factory were designed by John Heathcoat and were the first signs of industrialisation within the district, the most famous of his designs becoming the ’Loughborough Machine,’ the product of which was a twisted lace known as English net or bobbinet.
The Shepshed Lace embodied a sense of community and sanctuary for many people in Loughborough and surrounding areas. By gathering research that has been collected from memories, objects, photographs, and keepsakes saved by my grandparents and illustrate their years within the factory, I seek to explore the vibrant spirit of The Shepshed lace.
Development of Ideas
The project explores the manufacture of lace through experimentation whilst offering a reflection on the personal connection my grandparents have to The Shepshed Lace.
My initial photography and research have been taken from lace keepsakes my grandma and grandad meticulously collected from their time in the factory. These include photographs, dye recipes, samples of lace and a bobbin from one of the machines which have offered me a glimpse inside The Shepshed Lace.
I began my project through firsthand primary drawing of the items I had collected throughout my research, drawing shapes and shadows captured within the lace and capturing mark making from structures within the machines. To develop these drawings, I have scanned them in and manipulated digitally to explore repeat and print designs within.
My collection has developed to display a combination of structured and mechanical imagery along with softer mark making to create a visual storytelling of my research, whilst exploring scale, colour, and texture within my hand printed designs.
Final Collection
‘The Shepshed Lace' aims to display a collection of 10 textile outcomes created and inspired by my grandparents' time within the factory to capture their story. The collection has been designed for interiors use, to be used on soft furnishings within the home to bring playfulness and fun. The designs were created using a combination of firsthand drawing and digital techniques the final collection will be created through screen printing methods to honour the hands-on craftsmanship that was used within The Shepshed Lace.
The final collection will be printed on cottons and linens, all with varying weaves and texture to create an authentic and direct feel to the collection to aid the visual storytelling. The Shepshed Lace Manufacturing Company represents an industrialisation within the lace industry, my project aims to combine new technology with the old to reflect the innovation that my grandparents were part of.
