Woven Studio is looking for a new designer. The job involves hand weaving at a very high level for the designer end of the market. Applicants should have technical skills and also have some jacquard weaving skills as the role will involve working on the fashion collection for Vanners Mill and developing fabrics with our clients.

Applicants must have a thorough knowledge of photoshop and understand how to put designs into repeat. There will be some travel to Europe and also USA so a confident manner in dealing with our customers is required. The Studio is based in Bethnal Green, London.

Woven Studio is looking for a designer with a few years experience already in the woven industry, but would consider graduates who have experience from working as interns within the industry whilst studying.

July 15th 2014: This post has now been filled, please do not send any more applications. 

Bonnie Kirkwood Ltd (MA RCA) based at Cockpit Arts Studios in Central London, is looking for a freelance woven textile designer,  MA student or MA graduate.

The applicant must be a creative and enthusiastic individual, initially flexible with their time and be available during specific contracts and busy periods. Working closely with Bonnie Kirkwood the applicant will gain invaluable knowledge, by working on varying projects designing high end fabric collections for international fabric mills.

Responsibilities will include using cad programmes to present design concepts, weaving seasonal sample collections by hand, warp and loom set up and general admin. This role could potentially lead to a more regular position for the right person.

Skills required:  confident weaving knowledge and experience on a 24 shaft ARM loom, warp winding and loom set up,  excellent colour skills and weave structure knowledge,  confident Photoshop and Illustrator design skills for weave and print designing (and have access to use photoshop / illustrator programmes). Additionally research trend and fabric qualities, excellent time management, reliability and organisational skills are essential and an ability to work independently in a confident manner.

Salary – day rate: to be discussed
For further details or questions please contact Bonnie Kirkwood at bonnie@bonniekirkwood.com . Tel: 07813666907.

Job title: Machine and Apprentice House Interpreter
Salary: £12,304 per annum, pro rata (£6.31 per hour)
Contract: Permanent, part-time (780 annualised hours)
Location: Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Reference: IRC9871

About the role
Quarry Bank Mill is one of Britain’s greatest industrial sites. Overflowing with atmosphere of the Industrial Revolution, Channel 4 recently filmed the series, The Mill, here based on its history. From the cotton mill powered by Europe’s strongest working waterwheel to Apprentice House, the safe home built for pauper children, the successful candidate will help bring all the magic of this famous property to life.

Demonstrating weaving techniques on historic machinery and sharing secrets and stories of the Apprentice House, you’ll get people involved in exciting tours of Quarry Bank Mill. The National Trust wants everyone who visits to get a good insight into its history. You will talk about how domestic life was back then and you additionally you will demonstrate skills by spinning thread and woven fabric using our carding, spinning and weaving machinery, while talking to visitors about how it all works. From school sessions to special events, your work will make sure people leave smiling, full of new knowledge and excited to return.

Sharing stories and operating historic machinery, the successful candidate will bring the history of Quarry Bank Mill to life, taking visitors back in time on a tour that they won’t forget.

The role is based on 780 annualised hours so hours worked may vary from month to month but your salary will be paid in 12 equal installments over the year.

Skills required
You will have existing excellent customer service skills, a great imagination and a welcoming smile. Engaging and entertaining, you need to be able to confidently share stories in a way that interests and excites people of all ages, from all backgrounds. An interest in history and textiles would be a real bonus. Do not worry if you’ve never used spinning or weaving equipment before – the National Trust will give you plenty of training but you need to be switched-on, engaged and confident following health & safety regulations. You won’t be afraid to get stuck in, working together with colleagues to give visitors the best experience.

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Humphries Weaving company has an international reputation for high quality in woven silk fabrics, and has been weaving exclusive furnishing fabrics since 1972. They are looking to recruit a Sales Trainee Manger.

The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work with existing clients whilst seeking out new sales possibilities. The successful candidate will liaise between clients, designers and production. A key requirement will be an understanding of the UK and international furnishing markets and Humphries Weaving’s place with-in it.

Textile design or a background in historic interiors would be an advantage. Enthusiasm and communication skills will enhance the company’s opportunities and reputation at the very top of the furnishing trade. They offer training for development, and a unique chance to work with a luxury brand in the textile industry.

Hours of work are 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday – (40 hours) Please send applications in  by July 31st 2013.
Job location Sudbury, Suffolk
Web: www.humphriesweaving.co.uk
Please send your CV to sales@humphriesweaving.co.uk  for the attention of: R. J. Humphries

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Department of Fiber and Material Studies announces a full-time, tenured or tenure track-position, beginning August 2013. The department seeks candidates with accomplished studio practices who are proficient in both hand and machine, and analog and digital technologies as applied to textiles/fiber and material studies, preferably with experience in Jacquard weaving. S/he will lead the curricular and pedagogical direction of the weaving area. The ideal candidate should be versed in historic and critical dialogue/theory as related to the field within a broader contemporary art and cultural discourse. Rank and salary are competitive with peer institutions, and are commensurate with quality of scholarship or practice, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.

The Department of Fiber and Material Studies encourages an interdisciplinary approach to the investigation of relationships among concept, materiality, and process in contemporary art. Students use a broad range of media and methods with emphasis on the integration of textile, fiber and material study traditions, within an expanded contemporary art context. The department currently has five full-time faculty and up to fifteen part-time faculty. It has up to 20 dedicated MFA students, and over 750 undergraduate enrollments in 60 courses each year.
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VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that     works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO’s high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all.

VSO has been working in Ethiopia since 1997. The work of VSO Ethiopia focuses on education, working through volunteering and partnership to empower individuals and communities to realise their potential for positive and lasting change. Currently they have two vacancies for textiles and garment teaching professionals to work in Ethiopia for 12-24 months. These roles are based in the major universities in Ethiopia. Each role requires a specialist with at least 2 years of experience teaching in a higher educational institute as well as post-graduate qualifications (or equivalent) in the subject taught.

These are voluntary placements and VSO will ask you to commit to 12-24 months in order to make a sustainable change and impact to development. In return VSO makes sure their volunteers are supported and their volunteer financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, medical and travel insurance cover, national insurance contributions, visas and work permits and guaranteed holidays.

Please see below short summaries of each of the individual roles:

Professor for Textile Technology (textile testing and finishing), Bahir Dar, 24 months
You’ll be based at the Bahir Dar Institute of Technology and the Institute of Textile, Garment and Fashion Design working with institute staff to contribute to the improvement of the education system and university-industry partnerships. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity and support the change process. You’ll have a masters or equivalent in textile technology as well as experience of teaching and training. You’ll have experience of conducting research and ideally will have professional industry experience. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0534/0003/0001).

Professor of Garment Technology, Bahir Dar, 24 months
You’ll be based at the Bahir Dar Institute of Technology and the Institute of Textile, Garment and Fashion Design working with Institute staff to contribute to the improvement of the education system and university-industry partnerships. You will work with staff to develop a new curriculum and all aspects of the teaching programme for the MSc, conduct research and write funding proposals. You will also do staff training to build capacity and support the change process. You’ll have a masters or equivalent in garment technology as well as experience of teaching and training. You’ll have experience of conducting research and ideally will have professional industry experience. You’ll need to be an excellent communicator and have a flexible and proactive attitude towards work. (To apply for this role please quote Job ref: ETH0534/0002/0001).

Apply online at www.vso.org.uk/volunteer or email elizabeth.bowen@vso.org.uk for more information.

ASF Shetland is pleased to accept applications until March 31st for a weaver in residence through the summer of 2012. The post is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and ASF Shetland, and is for four months, half time working for ASF Shetland on product development, lectures and workshops, and the remainder of the time spent on their own work.

The post includes a monthly fee, transport costs to and from Shetland from the UK, and accommodation. Application forms and more detail can be found on the website

www.creativeindustriesshetland.org.uk/residency-opportunity/