Local photographer Stephen Furner captures the story behind a community group’s unique fashion project

Haringey mayor Sue Jameson tries out the new Qulit Club Robe (credit Stephen Furner) — Haringey mayor Sue Jameson models the new robes (credit Stephen Furner)

Last year Haringey’s mayor threw out a challenge to the borough’s creative community to design exciting new mayoral robes for her to wear at London’s New Year’s Day Parade.

The Quilt Club is a local community organisation that is not just sewing quilts but using textiles to weave together the fabric of the local community through art projects and workshops.

The group easily rose to mayor Sue Jameson’s challenge and provided the mayor with a stunning design that included historical references to the long history of creativity with textile design and clothing production within Haringey.

Althea McNish, a Haringey resident, had a major impact on the development of British textile design bringing strong colours and vibrancy into the fabrics used in everyday life. Anthea’s designs and vision have been included within the robe.

Originally from Trinidad, Anthea became the first black British textile designer to earn an international reputation. Her work can be found in national and international museums and galleries such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London or Tottenham’s Bruce Castle Museum and Archive.

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