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Paisley Pattern at the Coats Memorial
Paisley Pattern
Oct 2021 – Apr 2022
Beginning as part of Black History Month 2021, surface pattern designer Rebecca Johnstone has worked with a group of young people from Pachedu to deliver a series of face-to-face and online workshops, helping them to create their own textile designs. Using printing, painting and resist techniques, their fabric designs have been informed by research into theories about the origins of the Paisley Pattern as well as the history and development of West African Ankara prints.
Paisley Pattern – Close up of design
Through the workshops, participants explored how different cultures have borrowed motifs from one another both historically and in the present day. You can access a free copy of this research by clicking on this link:
The Paisley Pattern – Research [pdf document]
Slideshow: African and Paisley Photo Slideshow
Paisley Pattern – Workshop participants
Paisley Pattern – Workshop participant
The entire project has been documented by film students from University of the West of Scotland, led by Sean Leask, a mentee and work placement student working closely with David Montgomery of Media Monty. This has included filming at Coats Paisley, where project participants modelled their finished fabric designs. For the Coats event, designs for participants’ hair, makeup, and face painting were conceived and executed by students from West College Scotland.
Film: Paisley Pattern Community Textiles Project
Paisley Pattern at the Coats Memorial
Special thanks to all the staff, volunteers, and participants from Pachedu and The School of African Cultures for their support, enthusiasm, and hard work.
Paisley Pattern – Workshop participants
And thanks to the following people for making this project possible: Rebecca Johnstone of Dainty Dora; Inspiring Families Development Network Scotland; Media Monty and Mathilde van Ooijen, Sean Leask and Federica Massini from University of the West of Scotland; the Anietie Matthew family; Jennifer Williamson, Morgan Halfpenny, Lynsey Kyle, Margaret Anne McLean and Jodie Kinnon from West College Scotland; Sma’ Shot Cottages; the Tannahill Centre; Renfrewshire Heritage Centre; and Coats Paisley.
Paisley Pattern at the Coats Memorial
