DIGEST: HOPS, VISIBLE MENDING, SILK WEAVING IN MACCLESFIELD, HORN BUTTONS, THE NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

"Present at each stage of production are the standards and inimitable know-how accumulated over the last 150 years. Over that time, a few things have changed — some faster than others — but it’s still the precise same product off the line, same portraits of the founders in the entrance-way, and the same name above the door."

A characteristically well put together piece on the last horn button factory in the UK, in the West Midlands, from S.E.H Kelly. I sometimes struggle to keep up with their output, so I suggest you peruse their site's 'Makers' section in its entirety.

(Picture above from S.E.H Kelly)

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"The project was inspired by an attraction to the aesthetics of these workplaces, but also by an interest in what the practices of fixing, mending, repair and renewal could reveal about the way people value things, and each other."

I came across this site, Celebration of Repair, a little while ago. Delighted to see the research is now available in book form, entitled Visible Mending

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Are British hops the new grapes? (SIBA)

Though, according to this excellent radio programme, there's only 60 hop growers left in the UK (BBC Radio 4)

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"In this two part series, Steph McGovern looks at both the bigger story of silk production, but also takes a close look at how silk shaped one particular town - Macclesfield in Cheshire. Here, silk has been processed, woven and printed for four centuries, and had a profound effect not just upon the built environment but also the social world in which its inhabitants lived."

Another great bit of radio here, on silk weaving (jump to 22.28 to hear about the goings-on at RA Smart near Macclesfield) (BBC Radio 4)

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"Sheffield is one of the best places in the world to get a sense of how new thinking allied with clever technology and global marketing can transform traditional industries"

An insightful article by Peter Marsh on The New Industrial Revolution (The Global Journal)

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An aptly named retail site that highlights where things are made (Provenance)

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An interview with Adam Atkinson of Cherchbi (Grey Fox)

DIGEST: SHEFFIELD STEEL, A SCOTTISH TOUR, A NEW MAGAZINE ON BRITISH CRAFT

Photographer Andrew Smith has recently released a book documenting some of Sheffield's Forgemasters (one such image above). Entitled Steel Soul, the photos bring to mind the work of Maurice Broomfield

One to keep an eye on: Make Works, a Scottish based collective, is touring the country's factories this summer

The New Craftsmen: interesting new retail concept centred around British made luxury products

One of those brands is Doe Leather, which has a nice backstory and is hosting a workshop in London on 26th June

Margaret Howell's success in Japan (Telegraph)

Paul of S.E.H Kelly explains the background of the menswear label (Port Magazine)

The Anti-craft movement at the one man mill (S.E.H Kelly)

Interview with editor of new magazine on British craftsmanship, Hole & Corner (Cool Hunting)

Teaser for the next issue of drinks magazine Hot Rum Cow, which is whisky focussed this time around

A couple of audio pieces on Cambridge Satchel Company (from 18.25) and New Balance's Flimby factory (from 25.50) (Monocle 24)

Airfix reshoring some manufacturing (Guardian)

At Freed of London, ballet shoe makers (Spitalfields Life)

DIGEST: CLOTHING - A LEICESTERSHIRE FACTORY, A DERBYSHIRE MILL

John Smedley Factory Tour from Gavin Bush on Vimeo.

The tale of a clothing factory in Leicestershire that closed and reopened (S.E.H Kelly)

RECENT READING DIGEST

Photos (and a lovely write up) of an outerwear factory in north London (SEH Kelly)

A series of essays exploring the importance of design and craft today, including an essay from Another Country's Paul De Zwart (Danish Crafts)

Interesting features on British creatives, including Scottish craft beer brewers Brewdog and Midlands-based textile designer Tori Murphy (We Heart)

A video of Sebastian Conran talking about what makes British products (Design Council)

Whitechapel Bell Foundry is offering 'special' tours during the Olympics (Londonist)

David Hieatt of Hiut Denim on 'the age of the specialist' (eatbigfish)

A great map of British factories - from furniture to flannel (Margaret Howell)

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Photo from SEH Kelly

WEEKLY DIGEST

A master shirtmaker in Kent (S.E.H Kelly)

Tools for Everyday Life from Northumbria University (Sight Unseen)

Information on Birmingham Made Me, a showcase of products made in the West Midlands (Pashley News)

Scotch is big business - Diageo said to be investing £1bn (FT)

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Photo from S.E.H Kelly

WEEKLY DIGEST

Articles of note on UK making that I have read this week:

Ron Dennis of McLaren on the future of manufacturing in the UK (Real Business)

On Tunnock's factory in Uddingston c2008 (Nothing To See Here)

At a cashmere mill in West Yorkshire (SEH Kelly)

Alan Sugar on UK manufacturing (Make it British)

Photo from SEH Kelly

MOHAIR MILL, YORKSHIRE : SEH KELLY

SEH Kelly has recently published these photos of one of the mills it uses to produce its clothing range. Alongside the pictures is an insightful write up which includes this passage on how the mills in the Heavy Woolen District draw strength from each other:

"Whereas a half century ago the mills here were competitors, now alliances of a type are commonplace. In place of inter-mill rivalry is recognition that cooperation and a pooling of the expertise that remain are in everyone’s best interest."