Established in 2003, Classic Textiles, a subsidiary of the Centre for Advanced Textiles (CAT) at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), accurately recreates 20th century textile designs using digital technology. Designs held by archives, consortiums and private collectors are recreated digitally and printed. Classic Textiles collections comprise designs by Lucienne Day, Robert Stewart, Sylvia Chalmers and Lana MacKinnon. This presentation discusses a current project between CAT and GSA’s Archives and Collections service (A&C). The intention is to explore the possibilities of developing textile-based products from four post-war pattern designers: Lucienne Day (1917-2010), Sylvia Chalmers (c1928-2008), Dorothy Smith (c1923-2002) and Margaret Stewart (fl 1940s-1960s). Examples of work by each of these designers is held by GSA archives.

A versatile and influential designer, Lucienne Day with her husband Robin, pioneered the post-war revival of design and manufacturing. A contemporary of Day, Sylvia Chalmers graduated from GSA in the late 1940s and won medals for her textiles at the 1954 Milan Triennale. She established Tuar Fabrics, a textile printing company based in Scotland and for over twenty years produced designs, often selling for fashion to Elizabeth Eaton. Dorothy Smith also studied Textiles at GSA, graduating in 1944 and gaining the prestigious Newbery Medal for her diploma work. Smith went on to work in Glasgow in the field of education. Margaret Stewart studied at GSA between 1949-54, under influential Scottish designer Robert Stewart (no relation); she worked at Edinburgh Tapestry Company’s, Dovecot Studios during the 1950s. The project provides an opportunity to research and promote the work of Day, alongside her lesser-known Scottish-based contemporaries. This will culminate in an exhibition (GSA, 16th September – 8th October 2017) of archival artworks and artefacts, presented with the newly developed products. This presentation will focus on digital design recreation processes; consent, copyright and licensing, alumni relations; product development towards archive collection commercialisation.