MYB Textiles were recently involved in The Ghost of Water Row, a project by EDO Architecture, for which they produced a veil for their temporary structure at Water Row, using their Guirlandes pattern. MYB Textiles is  Morton Young and Borland Ltd and was founded in 1900 in the Irvine Valley, Scotland, exclusively weaving Scottish Lace and Madras sheers.

This pattern was felt to be relevant to the project due to the definition of the word ‘Garland’ and the Flemish roots of the handloom industry in Govan and throughout Scotland.

Thanks to this project and the history it has drawn their attention to, MYB are now researching the links between the Ayrshire lace industry and Govan by way of the weavers trail.

MYB hope to share their findings soon. In the meantime, there is some more information on the project from EDO Architecture:

Water Row has always sat at the heart of Govan. It’s a route to a crossing of the water and the reason Govan exists. Since pre Christian times, there have been successive layers of crossing and inhabitation here. All have their stories … all have their ghosts. Many remain buried awaiting investigation.

Govan’s Raison D’etre is routed in the water. With it’s desire line blocked it remains in a state of disconnection.

The Ghost of Water Row as it will appear on the footprint of the original buildings, distills the nature of Human Inhabitation that lasted here, till the Industrial Giant Harland and Wolff arrived. Built in pale Scottish Spruce – The Ghost is a careful distillation of four Buildings that sat to the west of the now buried slipway at Water Row. Its not a direct copy of the Ferry Inn or the weavers cottages that sat here from 1700 -1912 but it says something of them.

The shuttles of Govans hand loom weavers stopped flying in early 1900 to make way for shipbuilding. On the 5th November 1912 the Burgh of Govan was subsumed by the city of Glasgow and much of its independence went with it.

The pattern of the ‘Lace on the Ghost’ was taken from Flemish trade on the river Clyde its estuary and firth. It’s known as “Guirlandes” meaning garlands and representative of Honour. The pattern was moved from hand looming to mechanised looming and remains in production by MYB textiles in Ayrshire to this day.

All photographs by & copyrighted to Tom Manley

The Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers is pleased to announce a new grant scheme to foster the exchange of skills and knowledge between Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers and UK Universities and Colleges involved in textiles.

Today’s textile students are all potentially future Guild members and Journal readers. They can benefit from the considerable expertise that Guilds have to offer. Equally, Guilds can get an insight into current issues and trends in textile design through engagement with educational institutions and their students.

Although applications will only be accepted, and funding provided, via Guilds that are members of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, we are keen to make Universities and Colleges with textile departments aware of the scheme so that they can form or strengthen their links with local Guilds and consider what sort of activity might be mutually beneficial.

Further details
Guilds will be invited to apply for a grant from the Journal for educational work to cover expenses such as travel, materials and tutors’ fees.
In total, the Journal has up to £500 in grants available, which could potentially support a number of projects.

Proposed activity might, for example, include
• Demonstration and discussion of specific weaving techniques with examples from staff, students and Guild members.
• A spinning demonstration and workshop provided by the Guild for students. A talk for the Guild by students on some of the yarns, materials and processes they have been using.
• A one-day workshop on a specialist dye technique for Guild members and students using expertise from the Guild and facilities at the university. Techniques might include use of natural dyes, warp painting, ikat, wax resist and so on.

These are just examples however: we expect proposals that are relevant to the particular interests and skills of Guilds and the educational institutions they will be working with. The proposed activity must take place during the period February – June 2013.

If you don’t already have Guild contacts, you can find a list of Guilds at
www.wsd.org.uk/guilds.htm

Information about the grants scheme and how Guilds can apply will be published in the Autumn issue (243) of the Journal.

The Journal is the magazine of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. Published quarterly, it covers a wide range of textile subjects, including articles on historic textile techniques and cutting edge modern design. We offer reduced subscription rates to both educational institutions and individual students.
www.thejournalforwsd.org.uk/