Crafts CouncilDirectoryAlicia WalkerThe Reward of LabourAboutA high-end fashion collection, taking aesthetic inspiration from the pottery industry, the silk and dye industry, and workwear in North Staffordshire. The collection explores different weights using ceramic, silks and workwear to tell the story of craftsmanship and working conditions. The interplay of materials highlights the complicated, intricate relationship between the region's industrial heritage and its craftsmanship. The collection champions natural dyeing and slow, place-based textiles.Alicia WalkerStoke-on-Trent, England'The Craftsman', Alicia WalkerNaturally dyed silk habotai with home-grown sulphur cosmos and iron. Hemp webbing and hand-made ceramic buckles. Based on adjustable buckles used on aprons. The piece has been constricted and gathered, contrasting the lightweight silk with the heavy weight of the hemp webbing and buckles. The difference between the workwear aesthetics and the silk creates a narrative of a craftsman immersed in their craft when at work, creating delicate pieces in an industrial setting. The hand-made, workwear and oily appearance of the buckles, and the use of home-grown natural dyes emphasises the importance of immersing into hand-crafted and not losing that to industrialisation.'Uniform Stripe', Alicia WalkerProcion screen-print on vintage chore jacket Inspired by stripes that have been consistently seen on workwear throughout the years. Screen-printed painted lines of different sizes have been used as a reference to the different stripes seen on workers, referencing the scale of the workforce in craft-led industries. Three different shades of blue have been used, representing a jacket fading throughout time. This jacket has been chosen due to its character showing rips and wear, worn down by a worker, adding to my narrative about craftsmen working laboriously.'March of Workers', Alicia WalkerAntique workwear scraps, indigo dyed hemp, hand-woven indigo. Inspired by the community of workers brought together by industry in North Staffordshire. The range of different worn down, stained fabrics are representative of workers in unions fighting for workers’ rights and better working conditions. All the scraps have been used in industry with some scraps used dating back to the 1800s, being used through the industrial revolution, linking the fabric directly back to the period of the project. Indigo dyed fabric has been used as reference to the indigo dye used in the dye works in Leek. The edge of the fabric has been left raw and threadbare to emphasise the difficulty of work being done in the factories.'Grime and Oil', Alicia WalkerSilk habotai naturally dyed with home-grown coreopsis and marigolds. Iron added to add texture and sadden colour. Stoneware clay glazed grommets. Hand-made ceramic grommets have been used as a reference to machinery and workwear used in the pottery, silk and dye industries. The weight of the ceramic pulling the silk is representative of the struggle of working with the machinery, whilst creating ornate work. The handmade appearance of the ceramic combined with the use of home-grown natural dye plants spotlights slow-design and hand craftsmanship emphasising what was lost because of industrialisation. Iron has been used to add an oily, dirty texture like the piece has been worn around the factory machinery. Natural dyes and silk have been used a reference to the natural dye and silk industries in Leek.'Uniform Stripe', Alicia WalkerThe Reward of LabourAboutA high-end fashion collection, taking aesthetic inspiration from the pottery industry, the silk and dye industry, and workwear in North Staffordshire. The collection explores different weights using ceramic, silks and workwear to tell the story of craftsmanship and working conditions. The interplay of materials highlights the complicated, intricate relationship between the region's industrial heritage and its craftsmanship. The collection champions natural dyeing and slow, place-based textiles.Alicia WalkerStoke-on-Trent, England'The Craftsman', Alicia WalkerNaturally dyed silk habotai with home-grown sulphur cosmos and iron. Hemp webbing and hand-made ceramic buckles. Based on adjustable buckles used on aprons. The piece has been constricted and gathered, contrasting the lightweight silk with the heavy weight of the hemp webbing and buckles. The difference between the workwear aesthetics and the silk creates a narrative of a craftsman immersed in their craft when at work, creating delicate pieces in an industrial setting. The hand-made, workwear and oily appearance of the buckles, and the use of home-grown natural dyes emphasises the importance of immersing into hand-crafted and not losing that to industrialisation.'Grime and Oil', Alicia WalkerSilk habotai naturally dyed with home-grown coreopsis and marigolds. Iron added to add texture and sadden colour. Stoneware clay glazed grommets. Hand-made ceramic grommets have been used as a reference to machinery and workwear used in the pottery, silk and dye industries. The weight of the ceramic pulling the silk is representative of the struggle of working with the machinery, whilst creating ornate work. The handmade appearance of the ceramic combined with the use of home-grown natural dye plants spotlights slow-design and hand craftsmanship emphasising what was lost because of industrialisation. Iron has been used to add an oily, dirty texture like the piece has been worn around the factory machinery. Natural dyes and silk have been used a reference to the natural dye and silk industries in Leek.'Uniform Stripe', Alicia WalkerProcion screen-print on vintage chore jacket Inspired by stripes that have been consistently seen on workwear throughout the years. Screen-printed painted lines of different sizes have been used as a reference to the different stripes seen on workers, referencing the scale of the workforce in craft-led industries. Three different shades of blue have been used, representing a jacket fading throughout time. This jacket has been chosen due to its character showing rips and wear, worn down by a worker, adding to my narrative about craftsmen working laboriously.'Uniform Stripe', Alicia Walker'March of Workers', Alicia WalkerAntique workwear scraps, indigo dyed hemp, hand-woven indigo. Inspired by the community of workers brought together by industry in North Staffordshire. The range of different worn down, stained fabrics are representative of workers in unions fighting for workers’ rights and better working conditions. All the scraps have been used in industry with some scraps used dating back to the 1800s, being used through the industrial revolution, linking the fabric directly back to the period of the project. Indigo dyed fabric has been used as reference to the indigo dye used in the dye works in Leek. The edge of the fabric has been left raw and threadbare to emphasise the difficulty of work being done in the factories.More from Alicia WalkerProjectThe Final FiringProjectThe Reward of LabourProjectThe Reward of Labour