Sandra Stanley and the Sewing Circle, Leicester
Sandra is the leader of the Sewing Circle, which meets weekly at the Afro-Caribbean Centre in Leicester. Each member creates their own pattern to make clothing for themselves, which they celebrate during an annual fashion show. They are inspired by African and West Indian fabrics and incorporate recycling into their collections.
Stories of Making and Migration
As part of Made in the Middle we have been collecting stories of making in the Midlands that are influenced by migration.
We met with ‘everyday makers’ who craft for themselves, making at home, in a local studio or with a community. Through jewellery, pottery, crochet, textiles, blacksmithing and batik, their work celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity of the Midlands. It highlights how craft skills that migrate with the makers influence creativity.
We met makers of South American, African, Caribbean, South Asian and East Asian heritage. They tell of a love for making and craft. Whether self-taught, passed down through family or shared within their community. It has been a privilege to work with them to weave together a rich tapestry of stories across the Midlands.
Research, documentation and storytelling by Hayley Salter, a Birmingham based photographer, film-maker and creative producer.
