Dundee's jute mills may have fallen silent, but the industry's influence is continuing shape the modern day creations of one local textile designer.
Lorraine Anderson has just completed the Printed Textiles course at the University of Dundee, during which the focus of her work has been on the city's jute heritage. Her research into the story of jute and the resulting fabrics which she was inspired to produce have won her a first class Honours degree- the highest possible academic grade.
Lorraine has spent the last three years submerging herself in Dundee's jute heritage. She spent many hours at the city's Verdant Works and authored a dissertation examining how the tourist attraction portrays the story of jute. She also created printed textile designs based on the weave of jute, and she has just returned from showing these off at the prestigious New Designer event in London which allows up and coming designers to make contact with industry.
During her time as a student, Lorraine has won or been a runner-up in several awards, including the Scottish International Educational Trust Award for students of outstanding ability. She now plans to stay at the University's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design to study for a Masters degree. She will continue to take inspiration from Dundee's history but will also be looking at the city's present and future by examining its influential work in the field of life sciences.
Lorraine said, "I am a Dundonian, so it has been a real inspiration to me to explore the city's heritage in jute. I'm now hoping to continue work in this area while doing a Masters, and I'm also going to be basing new work on some of the modern advances in science which have taken place in the city."
Lorraine graduates on July 10.
By Jane Smernicki, Press Officer 01382 344768 j.m.smernicki@dundee.ac.uk