This workshop will bring to light the overlooked experiences of migrant women who contributed to the West Midlands’ textile heritage. Their rekindled memories of factory work and relationships between women workers and employers will be used to create a patchwork tapestry.

Experts on South Asian diaspora studies from the University of Wolverhampton will team up with Community Education Academy of Leadership (CEAL), pioneers in cataloguing stories of overlooked women textile workers, to facilitate a sharing of memories of these early migrants’ experience. Race, gender, class and religion have figured in the stories collected thus far by CEAL but what about caste?

In the first half of this workshop, we will rekindle memories by collectively viewing archival images of overlocking machines in the company of workmates, friends and families. Research findings on caste in Britain will be briefly shared and further triggers to memory will be provided through the touch of old fabrics, labels and buttons. Hidden stories of bonds and breakups, laughter and tears, troubles and struggles, involving co-workers, employers, families and friends will be voiced. In the second half, the women’s stories will be used to create a patchwork for display using fabrics, threads and needles.

This event is part of the ‘Black Country Unscene’ series organised by University of Wolverhampton.