Dr Emma Neuberg set up the Slow Textiles Group in 2009 as a platform for textile designers and workers to meet, share, develop ideas, collaborate and experience solidarity.

With over 3000 associates, the group has grown exponentially. Ninety percent are female which indicates where knowledge share, skills development, network and a need for solidarity in a creative industry such as this are most felt and acted upon in the UK (and Europe, Canada, USA, Australia) today.

With the new design generation interpreting textiles in ever broader ways, there has never been a better time for establishing new discourse, interpretations and hybrids for textiles and textile design.