WEEKLY DIGEST

A (rather clothing centric) round up of recent stories of note:

Oliver Spencer and GF Smith (OEN) - video above

Christopher Raeburn and 'Made in Britain' (Vogue)

Britain's Heritage Heroes at the Portland Works, Sheffield (BBC)

At the Corgi knitwear factory, Wales (Permanent Style)

British manufacturing under the spotlight at London Fashion Week (Make it British)

Interview with Nigel Cabourn (OEN)

WEEKLY DIGEST

Following a brief hiatus over Christmas and the new year, it's a bumper digest of UK manufacturing stories this week.

On the success of German manufacturing (Guardian)

UK manufacturing has reasons to be optimistic in 2012 (The Manufacturer)

UK manufacturing sector stagnant (Guardian)

Bentley posts 37% surge in sales (Guardian)

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce records record sales thanks to Asian market (Guardian)

Welsh clothing label Howies is going independent once again (Howies)

Brands look to rebuild British textile industry (MEN)

Martin Parr's Black Country Stories opens on 20th January at The New Art Gallery Walsall (Multistory)

Open call for Designers in Residence 2012 (Design Museum)

A lovely profile of expert joiner Dave Thompson (Spitalfields Life)

Inside the Efgeeco factory, Balham (Andrews of Arcadia Scrapbook)

Picture from Spitalfields Life

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."

WEEKLY DIGEST

A video interview with Evin O'Riordin of the Kernel Brewery in Bermondsey, south London (Eat Big Fish)

On a beer note: Ten UK breweries causing ripples in 2011 (Food and Drink Digital)

A visit to the Fox Flannel factory (Permanent Style via Make it British)

Fallow denim weaving its own in London (Fallow Denim)

Great piece on Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir's British road signs as design classic (BBC)

Kraft to make biscuits in the UK but Cadbury chocolate jobs seemingly at risk (Shropshire Star)

HARRIS TWEED : FROM LAND TO STREET, BY LARA PLATMAN

"Our world is increasingly one devoid of reality and humanity. As our lives are played out over the ether - by electronic mail and instant message, in online shops - we are becoming detached from what is real and substantial and true," writes Patrick Grant in the foreword to this stunning book of photographs by Lara Platman.

The book was published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Harris Tweed's trademark Orb stamp and is a fitting tribute to the only fabric that has its own legislation. 'Harris Tweed means a tweed that has been hand-woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides' goes the definition which became statutory when it was passed in 1993.

Having endured a fall in demand during the 90s and early part of this century, the Harris Tweed industry has steadied, meaning there is demand for weavers once again.

Covering the entire process - from wool to mill to weaver and on to finished article, Platman introduces the reader to some of the people who have benefitted from the resurgence of this beautiful material. Alongside some good portrait photos of the weavers, mill workers and farmers, are short descriptions of their daily lives and working ways.

The book provides a suitable entry level of detail. Details on the different sheep breeds tell the reader about Blackface sheep - dating from the 12th century and the original wool source for Harris Tweed. Nowadays Scottish cross breeds and Cheviot sheep from the Borders are used. These allow for softer tweeds to be produced, meeting modern demand for such fabrics.

"I hope... that my depiction of those who work with Harris Tweed will be a reminder of some of the skills that are alive in Britain today," writes Platman in her introduction. Harris Tweed: From Land to Street is more than a reminder. It is a celebration of the production of one of Britain's finest items. And it certainly has the substance and truth that Patrick Grant mentions in his foreword.

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Harris Tweed: From Land to Street is published by Frances Lincoln

With thanks to Emma at Frances Lincoln

WELSH WEAVERS, STOKE POTTERS AND NORFOLK UPHOLSTERERS : SCP PAPER, ISSUE TWO

SCP, the London based furniture company founded by Sheridan Coakley, sporadically publishes a paper. The latest one was released in April this year and is worth picking up (or downloading in pdf form here) for the information on the craftspeople that the company works with.

The article briefly covers Coakley & Cox Ltd (pictured on the spread above), SCP's own specialist upholstery factory in Norfolk where 'expertise and knowledge are shared and designs are made collectively'.

Also mentioned are hand-made ceramics from Stoke-on-Trent (where SCP uses two factories to make its designs) and textile weaving in Wales. The latter is 'a traditional mill... that has been in the same family for over a century'. According to the paper, SCP has its own yarn specially spun and dyed in Yorkshire that is sent to Wales for weaving.

Thank you to Lucy at SCP for sending over images of the Stoke-on-Trent pottery and Welsh textile weavers. Readers can see more of these on the M&I Facebook page.

SUMMER HOLIDAY

Whilst Manufacture & Industry takes a short break, please enjoy this spread of fine fabrics from holiday enablers British Rail and Cunard. Weaved by Marianne Straub, these vivid textiles featured in the QE2 lounge and on Midland Region trains, among other interiors.

Image from the highly recommended VADS archive.