A Blackburn photographer who documented a ‘grow your own clothes’ fashion project, which was featured on BBC Countryfile, is aiming to raise awareness of renewable and sustainable clothing.
Gary Davies, 60, was able to capture the behind the scenes of a fashion project called the Homegrown Homespun project, that used old textiles techniques to create a pair of indigo jeans.
The regenerative fashion project aims to re-introduce flax and woad growing to Blackburn by creating a linen clothing line that has benefits for the environment and nature, as well as the local green economy in East Lancashire.
The project is a collaboration between Justine Aldersey-Williams of The Wild Dyery, North West England Fibreshed, designer Patrick Grant of social enterprise Community Clothing, and arts commissioning organisation The Super Slow Way who run the British Textile Biennial.
Using bygone methods of planting flax and woad seeds and old terminology such as retting, breaking, scutching, hackling, spinning, dyeing, and weaving, contributors rebirthed the ancient heritage of linen growing on disused urban land in Blackburn.
Gary, who is currently a final year degree student at The University Centre, Blackburn College, spent approximately six months documenting the project as part of his studies and capturing the workers in action through a camera lens.
He said: “I felt a strong connection to the project because I have lived and worked in the area all my life.
"On leaving school, I started an apprenticeship at Platts Saco Lowell, which manufactured spinning machines for the textile industry.
"This opportunity gave me a fascinating insight into the process and a privileged photograph.”
Proving it’s never too late to pick up an old hobby, Gary decided to study a degree in photography and learn the craft of film-photography and digital photography.
He said: “A few years ago, I saw the course at Blackburn and decided to give it a go – you’re never too old.
"It’s changed a lot since then, with all the new technology, it’s a lot different and a lot easier to do photography now because it’s digital. The technology is really good.”
Speaking on his documentation of the Homegrown Homespun project, Gary added: “It was interesting to learn about this project and follow it up close for months.
“They went through the old techniques which was great to see. In terms of sustainability, this project shows the resources are there and the idea is there which is great.
"All the dyeing was done in Blackburn as well which is good in terms of making clothes locally.”
By using skills gained from the tutors at university, Gary is holding an exhibition in January where he can portray the process of field to fabric in a series of photographs taken over each stage of the project, incorporating images of the original techniques used in Blackburn mills many years ago.
You can view more of Gary’s work on his website here photographybygaryadavies.com
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