Caribbean textile narratives then and now



Dorcas Stories from the Front Room

A Craftspace exhibition co-curated with Rose Sinclair

Dorcas Stories from the Front Room celebrates 75 years of Windrush by exploring Caribbean textiles, craft and fashion. Co-curated by Dr Rose Sinclair, it tells the story of Dorcas Clubs and features historic documents, fashion garments, domestic crafts, photographs by Vanley Burke, contemporary fashion, audio stories and films.

The exhibition in Birmingham has finished but you can visit virtually here.

A bright vintage magazine with an illustrated cover showing a cotton reel, paint palette and rolling pin. Along side are a Dorcas label on a sewn item and a pin tin branded Dorcas.

Who or What is Dorcas?

Read more about Dorcas Clubs.

Evelyn Wauchop's landing card. A recreation of the card with her name and 'stowaway' written on it.

Windrush Arrivals

Stories from 1948-1962.

AN old black and white photo of a man sitting at his sewing machine in a cramped room. There is a small sewing table, a dressing table with a mirror, an iron on the floor and stacked rolls of fabric on the mantle piece.

We are Here to Stay

Stories from 1962 to the 1980s

In the foreground a brown and grey knitted garment is embroidered with bright pink wool. The blurred backround shows some bright wall hangings.

Windrush Futures

The evolving legacy.

a Black woman rests her elbows on a table in a studio and looks at the camera. There are spools of thread, a box of yarn and other textiles and tools around her.

Listen to the podcast

Listen to stories of black knitters in Birmingham.

An embroidered purse, text says 'Joyce, Factory, Purses'.

Pannel Croft stories

Recording stories from Birmingham.

Made possible with Heritage Fund.

#DorcasStories


Where Next?

Smocking activity

Learn how to do smocking.

Smocked pillows on an exhibition stand.

Dorcas Stories: Windrush Arrivals (1948 to 1962)

Finding craftspeople on the Windrush.

Evelyn Wauchop's landing card. A recreation of the card with her name and 'stowaway' written on it.

Dorcas Stories: We are Here to Stay (1962 to the 1980’s)

Stories of Caribbean immigrants.

In the foreground, part of a dress with a graphic bamboo pattern on it. In the blurred background is a sewing machine and a vintage handbag.

Dorcas Stories: Windrush Futures

Stories of the Windrush legacy.

Three women stand in a line with their backs to the camera and the sky visible in the background.


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