The company names ‘Stoddard’ and ‘Templeton’ are synonymous with the formation and development of the carpet industry in the United Kingdom. As employers of numerous reputable designers, these companies created carpets for an array of highly prestigious occasions and interiors. They exported worldwide and produced for the domestic market. Unfortunately, the regrettable demise of the Scottish carpet industry is reflective of the general decline in British textile manufacturing. Upon the closing of Stoddard International PLC a consortium comprising The Glasgow School of Art Library, University of Glasgow Archive Services and Glasgow Life purchased the companies’ historically significant design and corporate archives. As a textile researcher, lecturer and designer I have been fortunate to undertake research, funded by The Royal Society of Edinburgh, surrounding aspects of this most outstanding resource, and in particular the Stoddard Design Library held by The Glasgow School of Art. The purpose has been to extend understanding of carpet design in Scotland and therefore textile design history, by investigating the workings of the Stoddard Templeton design studio and in particular, the utilisation of the in-house design library. Containing a rich array of material including carpet design, textiles, ornament, two-dimensional pattern and interior references, the design library was the resource used to inspire and aid the design process. Insights provided by carpet industry employees, including former Slab Boys, Slab Girls, Apprentices, Sketchers, Designers, Colourists, Chief Designers, Design Coordinators, Marketing Managers and Archivists have been central to the project. Understanding gained through interviews with these individuals has brought life to items held in various archive collections; I am highly privileged to have listened to so many fascinating stories. Coinciding with the exhibition, Interwoven Connections: The Stoddard Templeton Design Studio and Design Library, 1843-2005, Mackintosh Museum, The Glasgow School of Art, 9th November 2013 – 11th January 2014, this publication includes a series of essays and a selection of accompanying visual material. After an introduction which details the companies’ historical background, contributions are made by staff from The Glasgow School of Art, namely, Librarian, Duncan Chappell, Archivist, Susannah Waters and Head of the Department of Fashion & Textiles, Jimmy Stephen-Cran. The subsequent content of this publication is reflective of the exhibition and discusses the design library, design studio, design process and design library utilisation. The concluding text focuses on areas of future potential activity surrounding the Stoddard Templeton Collection and acknowledges those who have assisted and supported the project. As with the exhibition, I only hope that this publication does justice to the remarkable Stoddard Templeton Collection and the often extensive insights provided by those with whom I have made contact, they have permitted the formation of some truly interwoven connections.

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