Tweed researchers are Orkney-bound — and they need your help

Research academics from Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen are heading to Orkney to investigate the potential of re-establishing the production of Orkney tweed on the islands, and they’d like you to get involved with their research.

Professor Sarah Pedersen, from RGU’s School of Creative and Cultural Business, and Dr Andrea Peach, from Gray’s School of Art, will arrive on Orkney next Tuesday to begin their research, which will involve working heavily with the local textiles community.

The project is at an initial starting point and the RGU team need to gather as much information as possible about the history of Orkney Tweed.

“We are travelling up to Orkney next week, from Tuesday to Thursday, to do some digging in the archives at Kirkwall,” explained Professor Pedersen.

“We are particularly interested in finding out about old patterns and production techniques.

“If anyone has some old tweed in their cupboards, or used to be involved in the production of tweed on the islands, we would be really interested in talking to them.”

Anyone who might be able to help can contact Sarah on s.pedersen@rgu.ac.uk or via Twitter @SarahPedersen2.

The research forms part of the wider Orkney Project, an exciting new initiative that Robert Gordon University (RGU) is currently developing in close collaboration with partners and stakeholders in Orkney.

The Project will see the creation of a series of collaborative activities undertaken on the Islands, in the areas of research, student activity and other planned projects. In order to support RGU’s ongoing activity on Orkney, the University is also looking to appoint an Orkney project development manager, to be based in Stromness and Kirkwall.

For further information about RGU and its Orkney research, you can visit http://www.rgu.ac.uk