Paisley landmarks get a woolly good Make over

Paisley Buddies are being urged to flock to the Abbey for a storming good time in support of the Paisley 2021 bid!

Article Source: PaisleyMake
Last Updated: 29 August 2016 15:23

As part of the PaisleyMake Festival of Creativity and Design, local designer Dyane Lanez will be hosting Paisley’s first ‘yarn storming’ events. To coincide with the launch of PaisleyMake on Wednesday 31st August, she will wrap the famous Paisley Abbey cloisters in a bright array of wool inspired by Paisley Pattern designs.

The colourful cloisters will be in place and available to view for free throughout PaisleyMake, from Wednesday to Saturday next week. Paisley Buddies have a chance to get yarn storming themselves during a workshop at Paisley Abbey from 1pm until 4pm on Saturday 3rd September.

People of all ages are being encouraged to come along and help wrap a range of Paisley 2021 related items in wool. There won’t be a knitting needle in site!

The first ever PaisleyMake Festival of Creativity and Design will welcome artisans and industry experts from across the world to Paisley for the four-day conference and programme of community workshops. The festival will also unveil a collection of Paisley’s unique, internationally-significant archive of Paisley Pattern designs, which will be housed in a new exhibit at the town’s museum.

Scotland Re:Designed – who are organising the event with Renfrewshire Council – will also give a platform to top Scottish fashion, textiles, accessories and interiors with a specially-curated exhibition and shop.

As a teaser of what’s in store next weekend at Paisley Abbey, Dyane staged a mini yarn storming of the Robert Tannahill statue and Pride of Paisley lions this week. The town’s renowned radical weaver-poet briefly donned a Paisley Pattern shawl to showcase the colour and intricacy of Dyane’s work.

The former fashion designer moved back to Paisley from London a few years ago and has found the town to be a hotbed of creative and cultural talent. With the support of InCube Renfrewshire, she has set-up Tout Petit, a business offering exquisite handmade knitted gifts and clothing.

She said: “I’m really pleased to be bringing yarn storming to Paisley for the first time. It’s a bit of fun which encourages people to look at their surroundings in a new way and I’m hoping to get as many local people as possible involved in the workshop, which is also a great way of showing support for Paisley 2021.

“I lived and worked for many years in London but since moving back to Paisley it’s clear just how big the appetite for creative cultural activity is in the town and across Renfrewshire. The support which I and many other entrepreneurs have had from InCube Renfrewshire epitomises exactly why Paisley deserves to become UK City of Culture in 2021.”

To view Tout Petit’s range of knitted goods, visit: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/toutpetituk

Jean Cameron, Paisley 2021 Bid Director, said: “The Paisley Pattern is our global brand that has inspired makers both in the past and today. It is what’s behind PaisleyMake, a festival which reinforces Paisley’s textiles heritage while also inspiring a new generation of makers.

“The Paisley 2021 bid is all about engaging and starting conversations with local people and businesses to demonstrate the breadth and depth of Renfrewshire’s cultural offerings. We’re delighted to have the support of local creative entrepreneurs like Dyane, who wanted to show her backing for the bid in a fun and innovative way.”

InCube is Invest in Renfrewshire’s new business programme to launch and grow creative retail businesses. During their year in the InCube base on Paisley High Street, all of the businesses receive a broad mix of support, training and advice from industry mentors in an environment which allows them to concentrate on developing their products, services and markets.

Cindy Robb, Economic Development Co-Ordinator at InCube Renfrewshire, said: “The Paisley 2021 bid to become UK City of Culture is energising local people and businesses. The opportunities it presents are generating real excitement among the creative businesses we support at InCube and it’s a great opportunity to showcase the talent which is here in Renfrewshire.

To find out more about PaisleyMake, visit: www.PaisleyMake.com