Graduate Lace Maker Sew Happy With Royal Invite
14 May 2013
Louise West graduated from the BA (Hons) Textile Design in 2010
I'm delighted to have been included in this exhibition and to have been invited to this exclusive event. Going forward I plan on developing my lace design business and would like to continue to teach and inspire everyone to try this craft, which has roots in the past but also a very promising potential for the future as well."
”Louise West
The work of a skilled laced maker who recently graduated from the University of Derby has been selected for inclusion in a prestigious royal exhibition being held at Buckingham Palace this summer.
Louise West graduated from the BA (Hons) Textile Design in 2010 and from the MA in Art Design Applied Practice and Theories (ADAPT) in 2013. She was invited to attend a special private view of the 'In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion' exhibition earlier this week (13 May) after being recognised by the Royal Collection for her recent involvement in a film about the history of the lace industry.
The exhibition, running from 10 May - 6 October at the Queen's Gallery in London, explores the ostentatious costume of British monarchs and their court during the 16th and 17th centuries through portraits in the Royal Collection. Louise will be featured in video footage demonstrating the process of lace making.
Louise said: "The costumes that are being featured in the exhibition are from a period when handmade lace was very much a status symbol, the more wealthy you were, the more lace you wore and it was incredibly important for men to also be seen wearing it."
Among Louise's many achievements include her being commissioned by architects from London to design an entire concrete façade for the Nottingham Contemporary and being awarded University of Derby Mentee Of The Year after being nominated by Pickford House Museum in 2010.
Louise added: "I'm delighted to have been included in this exhibition and to have been invited to this exclusive event. Going forward I plan on developing my lace design business and would like to continue to teach and inspire everyone to try this craft, which has roots in the past but also a very promising potential for the future as well."
Louise currently operates her company Louise West Lace Design out of University run Evolve Banks Mill Studios, one of its business incubation centres, where she uses traditional bobbin lace designs and natural form as inspiration for contemporary fine silver jewellery.
For more information about Louise West and other successful University of Derby graduates, visit www.derby.ac.uk/alumni/glittering-graduates or for more information about this exhibition, visit www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions
For more information about business incubation units, visit www.evolvederby.co.uk
