Title: Home Grown: Made in Littleport – Littleport Textile Project

Date: 2005

Location: Littleport, Cambridgeshire

Description: One Hundred Shirts: A temporary street installation to celebrate the textile tradition of garment manufacture in this Fenland village. Using formal shirts associated with pride and status, the concept has evolved after working closely with factory workers and local residents whose lives have been intertwined with the industries for generations. Mainly known as an agricultural place to outsiders, Littleport has been the production base for many of the country’s formal garment makers including Hope Brothers Shirt Company, Burberry, and today, Ede and Ravenscroft. As part of the project I have also developed a range of linked concepts exploring the relationships between the agricultural and textile traditions, documented in a book format.

Photographer: The Artist

Materials: One hundred formal mens shirts hung like washing, plus approximately two hundred metres of bespoke Ede and Ravenscroft/ Luke Eyres customised formal bunting.

Project details- Supported by: AdEC, Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Ede and Ravenscroft

Organised by: AdEC

Project Background: Set up as an open residency project to develop a range of temporary concepts and community development opportunities to celebrate the textile tradition of garment manufacture in this Fenland village. The result - a temporary street installation and accompanying exhibition showcasing the creative process and community workshops. A book documenting the visual research and resulting event has also been compiled for local and company archives. By forming relationships throughout the village including the business community the outcome of the project has been to celebrate and engender local pride, showing Littleport in a new light, whilst also encourage the creative use of skills normally associated with work.