Manifestos for Change in the Arts, Crafts and Fashion

Celebrating the regions rich textile and cultural heritage, this webinar -Manifestos for Change in the Arts, Crafts and Fashion is the sixth in the talk series that led up to the first ever Leek Textile Week (23-29 September, 2024), conceived and organized by League of Artisans.
The conversations explore how knowledge can help transform futures and connect us globally
Held on September 18, 2024 the compelling examination of motivations behind manifestos, the issues they address, the purpose of their call to the wider public, and their impacts both intended and unintended in bringing about change, form part of the discussions
Liandra Van Staden-Manifesto for a Fashion Revolution
Sarah Corbett-How to be a Craftivist in the art of Gentle Protest
Sol Marinucci -Artisans Voices
Shehnaaj Bano- In conversation
Host- Dr Ritu Sethi, League of Artisans
Liandra Van Staden, a trained textile designer and with a PG Diploma in Sustainable Development, University of Stellenbosch, she began her career at one of Africa's largest fashion and homeware retailers. Becoming aware of the significant negative impacts of the fashion and textile industry fuelled her commitment to being part of the movement to reimagine and transform the industry shifted her focus to creative education as a tool for change with the belief that education empowers individuals and challenges conventional behavior of societies that often neglect the vulnerable. Designing learning experiences that inspire change through creative problem-solving she joined the social movement organisation Fashion Revolution in 2018, where she is co-country coordinator for the South African country team exploring plans for just and equitable futures in South Africa, Africa, and beyond.
Sarah Corbett an award-winning activist, author and Ashoka Fellow set up the global Craftivist Collective in 2009, after demand from people globally to take part in her craftivism she started in 2008. Corbett grew up in Everton: the fourth most deprived ward in the UK into an activist family has worked as a professional campaigner for over two decades, most recently with Oxfam GB. Corbett provides craftivism (craft+activism) products/ services globally to use her unique ‘Gentle Protest’ methodology which has changed hearts, minds, business policies and government laws globally. She has worked with national charities such as The Climate Coalition, Mind, Save the Children, arts institutions including Tate, V&A and unusual allies including Secret Cinema, Helsinki Design Week and Maker Faire USA. Her TEDx ‘Activism Needs Introverts’ has been viewed over million times being chosen as TED Talk Of The Day. She has authored 'How To Be A Craftivist: the art of gentle protest' and 'The Craftivist Collective Handbook'
Sol Marinucci, textile designer, cultural manager, researcher, curator is Director and co-founder of League of Artisans, promotes and coordinates collaborative practices and exchanges between craft and design practitioners. A BA in Textile Design and Anthropology of Art Masters, her roots are in Latin America where she has worked with artisan communities for over 20 years. She lead the British Council global program-Crafting Futures across Argentina, Bolivia and South Asia. The resultant publication- Artisans' Voices: Dialogues for Sustainable Practices was published in cooperation with British Council, Fashion Revolution, Redit, and Craft Revival Trust. Her expertise is in research, ethical collaborations between artisans and in designers, building visual identities and in revitalising ancestral craft techniques for new generations.
Shehnaaj Bano is a weaver from Kaithoon village, Rajasthan. Involved with all aspects of her family tradition of weaving gossamer Kota-Doria square-checked patterns from a young age. Crafted with fine silk and cotton interspersed with metallic gold or silver yarns, she supports her family and speaks out for the community
Dr. Ritu Sethi editor, Global InCH journal of living heritage, in addition to overseeing Asia InCH Encyclopedia on heritage arts, textiles, and crafts of India and the wider South Asian region. Her research interests examine cultural histories of textiles, arts and crafts, their contemporary continuities, and interpretations in design, fashion, and the everyday. Author/editor of Embroidering Futures-Repurposing the Kantha; Designers Meet Artisans-A Practical Guide(Trans:Spanish and French); Painters, Poets, Performers-The Patuas of Bengal; Handmade for the 21st Century: Traditional Indian Textiles; among other writings. She works on policy, serves on advisory boards, and is founder-trustee, Craft Revival Trust, India, and Director, League of Artisans, UK.
Support for Leek Textile Week was public funding: National Lottery through Arts Council England and support and funds OUTSIDE Arts. Leek Textile talks were supported by Nila House, Lady Bamford Foundation