Lancashire is home to The National Festival of Making, a unique celebration of making, from the kitchen table to the factory floor.

This year’s programme includes a series of talks curated by The National Festival of Making in partnership with Creative Lancashire. It features some of the most recognisable names in fashion, design, art and industry in a series of free talks and panel discussions, and provides a rare opportunity for professional creatives, students, enthusiasts and the curious to learn more about the challenges, histories and future potential of making industries in their most diverse forms from those helping to shape them.?

All talks and panel discussions are free to attend, but due to limited capacity, booking is advised to guarantee your place. Take a look at what’s on:

Two extended round table discussion exploring the circular economy of making.

Part 1 will explore how we create the conditions for makers and craft businesses to flourish whilst also addressing problems relating to the end of life of products and waste including:

• What are principles and infrastructures that will support the circular economy principles in craft practice
• What is the role of education to inform the next generation of makers and creators to consider circular design and increase the understanding of materials within the production process
• What could be the role for design thinking in designing out waste in craft production
• How can we help encourage a shift in consumers to ‘cherish use – not consumption’
• What can be learned from the relationship with material & craft production in global majority communities where circular design disciplines are already embedded.
• What can be learned from related sectors and industries approaches
• Who else needs to be involved

Part 2  is informed by themes, ideas and provocations collected and presented by Ellen MacArthur Foundation in their recent Circular Design for Fashion publication which explores fashion industries huge potential to shift towards a circular economy fuelled by ‘passionate disrupters on the constant search for reinvention’.We will also look at the role of educators to reset the generation of fashion and textiles designers to embed circular economy principles to:

• Eliminate waste and pollution
• Circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and
• Regenerate nature

FIND OUT MORE & BOOK TICKETS