On the morning of the 5th of July, Dovecot Studios was delighted to welcome Her Majesty Queen Camilla where she was introduced to weavers, staff, and local craftspeople as part of the inaugural exhibition from Regenerative Textiles Scotland.
Her Majesty met with Director, Celia Joicey and trustees, Alastair Salvesen, Elizabeth Salvesen, and Brian Lang, before meeting Dovecot Weavers Naomi Robertson, Rudi Richardson, Louise Trotter, Emma Jo Webster, Ben Hymers, and Elaine Wilson. Her Majesty was shown the current projects on the looms including a newly commissioned Alberta Whittle tapestry and one of the three tapestries that make up the recently completed ‘The Edinburgh Seven’. She also met with artist Victoria Crowe who’s painting of Orkney has inspired a new gun-tufted rug which will be on display this December.
Her Majesty then visited the Regenerative Textiles Scotland exhibition, located on the Dovecot Weaving Balcony. This collaborative initiative focuses on ensuring sustainability and a circular economy in the textile sector, reshaping the industry for a more robust and ecologically friendly future. The exhibition features key garments from contemporary producers in Scotland, as well as new work from Scotland's top university fashion and textile students. Also on display were national and local initiatives that foster regenerative textile cultures.
More information about Regenerative Textiles Scotland can be found here.