Creation Mill CIC
Creation Mill is a Community Interest Company established in 2021 with the aim of raising awareness about sustainable textile crafting in the South of Scotland. With accessible workshops, short courses and training sessions in collaboration with local schools and colleges, Creation Mill works to inspire future generations to get involved in Langholm's historic textile industry, pledging to provide accessible workshops, short courses and training sessions.
Sustainability is considered every step of the way toward Creation Mill's mission. The fabrics and materials for their workshops are all salvaged from local textiles producers, who would otherwise have sent them to landfill. They also stock a small onsite shop with salvaged fabrics and haberdashery.
Emma Duncan is one of the directors of Creation Mill, as well as co-founder of Rose's Wardrobe, a vintage-inspired fashion business. With over 8 years of experience in fashion and print design, she is passionate about textile history, and loves collecting and reusing vintage fabrics.
Emma's Pieces for Forgotten Fleece Tales
Emma will present a set of giant felted logs made from recycled wool. Similar logs have gained attention in the UK for their use in peatland restoration. A Wensleydale wool worker has recently received a government grant to recycle Swaledale fleeces into chunky woollen logs, which will take the place of imported coconut coir which is laid across eroding gullies to stop heavy rain from washing away the exposed peat. This measure will help native mosses and plants to thrive once more, supporting biodiversity, reducing flooding, and storing carbon from the atmosphere.
Emma's felted logs will inspire viewers to think about how local wool can be used in the same way to support Scottish peatlands, which are amongst the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Such a measure would protect Scotland's natural beauty and biodiversity, decrease the cost and carbon footprint of doing so, and give a boost to the country's struggling wool industry.
Emma is also working on a felted wall hanging made from selvedge rescued from landfill by Creation Mill.
