A stunning set of six hand-made garments – each with city flowers stitched in – have been created to celebrate the heritage and people of Glasgow’s East End.
Each of the costumes, which are at the heart of the Eastern Ground initiative, has been designed by bespoke tailor Alis Le May to reflect one of the area’s historic buildings.
All have been modelled by local residents who were pictured by photographer Gemma Dagger at, or near, the buildings that inspired the garment. The models also each recorded their memories of the East End and its buildings.
The costumes will form part of the Eastern Ground exhibition which opens on 3 November at Strangefield in Dalmarnock.
It will also include photographs and eight wall hangings designed and made by students from Glasgow schools as part of an outreach exercise to pass disappearing skills, such as hand stitching and natural dyeing, to a new generation.
Alis, the project’s lead designer, said: “The East End of Glasgow often suffers from negative associations and it’s not somewhere people of regard as a destination to see beautiful architecture.
“That’s why this project matters to me. I want people to take a fresh look at the area – to appreciate its people, its buildings, the memories they inspire, and even the flowers and plants which grow there.
“This is a very special place to me and I get very frustrated hearing people write it off. In fact, I’ve lived in lots of places but it was only after moving to Dennistoun that I had the sensation that I was somewhere I could call ‘home’.”
“These buildings are not just architectural landmarks; they are repositories of community memories and shared histories.”
The garments were all crafted from natural materials like silk, cotton, wool, and linen and all incorporate plants and flowers that were either sustainably foraged from the East End or specially grown for the project. All have been photographed by Gemma Dagger and modelled by locals who share a personal connection to each featured building.
Project supporters and funders (see below) include the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
Creative Industries Officer at Creative Scotland, Jackie Stewart, said: “The Eastern Ground exhibit weaves together craft and community into the rich tapestry that is Glasgow’s heritage.
“Thanks to National Lottery funding, this project can encourage students in particular, to get to know their local East End area, environment and traditional crafting practices. The beautiful garments exhibited represent another stitch in Glasgow’s history that residents can be proud of.”
The costumes and models
St Anne’s RC Church, Dennistoun, built 1933. The costume is worn by Gail Forrester, a Dennistoun florist, who had her first holy communion in the church. Radiating broom flower petals echo patterns in the exterior brickwork and some of the internal features of the church. The broom petals are enclosed in beeswaxed silk and stitched to the garment.
Templeton Carpet Factory, Calton, built 1892. The costume is worn by Lillian Kelly, 82, a former Templeton Carpet Factory employee. Lillian worked at the carpet factory to generate some extra income to save for her wedding, as in those days they paid twice as much as she could earn at her family floristry business. She remembers the great sense of shared pride at Templeton – they were making famous carpets that would be shipped all around the world and used in high profile venues like The White House and various foreign embassies. The garment is decorated with an array of flowers to reflect to vibrant building façade. The main flowers include cornflowers which were grown from seed as part of the project.
Shettleston Hall (Also known as ‘Wellshot Halls’), Shettleston, built 1925. This costume is modelled by Kristine Walsh, 76, who remembers dances, plays and wedding receptions at Shettleston Halls. It was a centre of community life before a fire in 2008. Only the façade now remains and this is reflected in the design of the garment – the front features long tweed panels which reference the square columns which bookend the remaining façade. The back is made from layers of translucent silk organza, signifying that the back of the building only existing in a less tangible way – in memory. Foraged “fireweed”’ or rosebay willowherb flowers peek through the wool panels and decorate the hood of the garment.
Tollcross Winter Gardens, Tollcross, built 1848. Worn by Sally Leslie who is a member of the Shettlestone Local History Group, which contributed greatly to the project. She remembers being taken to the Winter Gardens as a little girl and later, when she was a mum, taking her own daughter. Unlike today, the Winter Gardens were full of wonderful plants. Sally even remembers a minor bird which had learned to swear. The costume is decorated with sun-bleached cornflowers.
Olympia Cinema, Bridgeton, built 1911. This garment is modelled again by Lillian Kelly, who remembers the former Olympia cinema as “the posh cinema” unlike other local picture houses which were cheaper but where you also risked getting fleas. She remembers the beautiful pink art deco interior, referenced in the varying shaded layers of the garment. The garment was naturally dyed with Madder by master dyer Julia Billings and features scented stock flowers – also grown in Bridgeton. The 24 layers of the back of the outfit reference 24 frames per second, the frame rate of standard film. The repeating semicircular layers reference the curtains that would draw open to reveal the silver screen.
Barrowfield Weaving Mill, Dalmarnock, built 1889. This kimono coat was worn by Donald Forbes a former postie who then went to work in the nearby police station. Over the years he has seen the building restored from dereliction and given a new life. The costume reflects the red brick of the old weaving mill and the wool was dyed by master dyer Julia Billings with madder. The gloves and lining are a bright red to reflect the Turkey Red dye process, an imported technique that Dalmarnock was famous for when the mill was in its prime. Forget-me-nots have been sewn into the costume.
Eastern Ground is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, The Holywood Trust, Clyde Gateway and Glasgow City Heritage Trust.
Martin McKay Clyde Gateway Chief Executive said: “Clyde Gateway is a fascinating area that offers a wealth of architectural, social, and cultural history. We are delighted to support Eastern Ground, a project that creatively and subtly acknowledges this history whilst engaging local people and communities in the creative process. We look forward to the exhibition which is hosted in Dalmarnock an area that is enjoying a rebirth.”
Taylor Cross-Whiter, Glasgow City Heritage Trust Heritage Officer, said: “We are excited to be helping fund Eastern Ground, which beautifully celebrates the historic buildings and people of Glasgow’s East End. Our mission is to safeguard and promote Glasgow’s rich architectural legacy, and this project is a testament to the power of the city’s built heritage to connect communities and create new opportunities for Glasgow.”
Eastern Ground is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, The Holywood Trust, Clyde Gateway and Glasgow City Heritage Trust.
Martin McKay Clyde Gateway Chief Executive said: “Clyde Gateway is a fascinating area that offers a wealth of architectural, social, and cultural history. We are delighted to support Eastern Ground, a project that creatively and subtly acknowledges this history whilst engaging local people and communities in the creative process. We look forward to the exhibition which is hosted in Dalmarnock an area that is enjoying a rebirth.”
Taylor Cross-Whiter, Glasgow City Heritage Trust Heritage Officer, said: “We are excited to be helping fund Eastern Ground, which beautifully celebrates the historic buildings and people of Glasgow’s East End. Our mission is to safeguard and promote Glasgow’s rich architectural legacy, and this project is a testament to the power of the city’s built heritage to connect communities and create new opportunities for Glasgow.”
About Eastern Ground
The project has taken 10 months and has been run by Clothworks Glasgow CIC. See www.easternground.org
Education Programme: Eastern Ground worked with schools to facilitate a series of workshops on sewing and natural dyeing techniques. Led by Alis Le May and master dyer Julia Billings, the programme engaged students in their local heritage. Eight wall hangings created by students will be displayed at the exhibition.
Callum McLennan, Eastern Ground co-organiser from Clothworks Glasgow CIC, said: “To see the creativity on show from the students, and their connection to where they call home in the East End has been a joy. Too often, this area of the city is overlooked as a cultural destination within Glasgow. This project is a way of challenging that perception and bringing attention to the East End’s architectural and cultural richness,”
Exhibition and Website: The exhibition will run from 3-12 November at Strangefield, 105-109 French Street, Dalmarnock, Glasgow, G40 4EH.An accompanying digital version will feature a walking map of all six historic sites and recorded oral histories, offering a broader context to the exhibition.
-Ends-
- · High-resolution images and interviews are available upon request
- For more details and to view the digital exhibition, please visit www.easternground.org from 2 November.
- Also see www.clothworksglasgow.org.
About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
For press enquiries contact Alis Le May at 07850678017 or [email protected] or Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or at [email protected].