Galashiels set to become home of new Scottish textile centre

Galashiels is set to become the home of a new Scottish Centre of Textiles however plans for the centre are still in the early stages. First on the list is to create a Scottish National Archive, which would house both historic and contemporary designs.

The industry has been through a difficult period, with many of the traditional mills closing with the loss of hundreds of jobs.

The people behind the project have spent many years campaigning for the centre to be based in the Borders, worldwide known for producing high quality textiles.

The centre will work closely with Heriot-Watt University who run their School of Textile and Design from the Scottish Borders College base in Galashiels. The aim is to have a clear route for students to follow once they begin their course, and they will also be able to use the national archive as a source of inspiration.

However, during the past year there has been a bit of a resurgence, with a number of new initiatives aimed at encouraging young people into the industry. Johnsons of Elgin, based in Hawick, also opened a new training centre and hired a number of young apprentices.

The next step for the project leaders is to put together a business plan, before looking for funding. Other plans for the textile centre could include a manufacturing base, a cafe and a museum.