LET’S WEAVE: Public Weaving
For over half a year in 2017, CHAT organised Weaving Wednesday to connect to different communities. To share the joy and magic of weaving, we hosted a special edition on a Saturday. There were 6 kinds of looming demonstrations and exercises using upcycled materials:
Backstrap Loom – the oldest form of loom in the world;
Portable Weaving Grid – A hands-on weaving kit enabled crisscrossing threads and fabric on recycled wooden frame;
Weaving Square – an action-filled square-shaped floating installation for 4 participants to weave simultaneously;
Cardboard-Can-Loom – An eco-friendly, cost-effective recycled cardboard loom stretched the limit of weaving;
Pang Jai Knitting Machine – Master Wong demonstrated the efficient way of mechanical weaving;
Great Weaving Wall – Created a colourful artwork across poles and fences at Fuk Loi Estate.
LET’S MAKE: Workshops
- Home Slippers DIY
Once a crystal stall proprietor in Lee Tung Street, Aunt May is now an advocate of environmentally-friendly crafts. She wishes to create interesting works using discarded materials, spreading the concept of sustainable living. - Explore a Sewing Machine
Have been working in the textile industry for nearly half a century, Master Wong knows sewing machines inside-out. He demonstrated the functioning of the machines. - Silk-screen Workshop
Participants tried hands-on silkscreen printing using illustrations created by local designer Geeio Yuen and teenagers from Po Leung Kuk Children & Youth Services Tsuen Wan Centre. - Looms Workshop
Breakthrough Art helped participants to make your own woven accessories using looms.
Aunt May
With her motto ‘Materials found in four seasons can turn to anything’, Aunt May is a social activist specializing in eco-friendly handicraft. In her eyes, object from the past bear resemblance to old place like old town, full of vibrancy and possibilities. She loves to share her stories and creations across different districts.
Fay Wong
Fay Wong, or Master Wong, has been in mechanical engineering for spinning and sewing machines for over 30 years. He pioneered in importing automated machines from countries including Japan, USA, Germany, UK, and greatly improved the quality and efficiency of manufacturing in Hong Kong. He is currently the consultant of CHAT Lab for mechanical maintenance.
Geeio Yuen
A designer, creator and storyteller, Yuen records tales of the city by drawing portraits for people he meets on the streets through his project ‘Nice to meet you’. He was also an instructor of CHAT’s visual art workshops for this programme, creating works about Tsuen Wan with young people.
Breakthrough Art Studio
A local brand that was built to promote weaving culture in Hong Kong. Started from 2016, they put efforts in building different kinds of loom for Hong Kong people, and organised varies of creative weaving workshops. They studied brilliant history of textile and weaving, and use their way to translate the wisdom of traditional weaving methods in a modern vision.
LET’S GO: Cultural Tours
This series of cultural tour co-organised by CHAT and The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe), comprised oral history, archive and field research under three thematic routes:
Industry and Urban Development – covered old villages, public housing estates and industrial area – a progressive change of Tsuen Wan across different phases of time;
Tale of Tsuen Wan – not only showed a glimpse of New Territories history, but also traced back the development of the town;
Textile Now and Then – covered factory areas which have gone through the ups and downs of textile industry, followed by a visit to a lively community where sewing and weaving are still carry on.
LET’S CHAT: Talks
Based on the topic “Textile and Responsibility”, we invited key stakeholders across textile related communities, to express their views at ‘Let’s Chat’.
Session 1 | Weaving with Technology
Speaker: Yan Chan, Director, Business Development, Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA)
Can fabric be made of food waste? Can sunlight be a cleaning agent? Have you ever wondered about the possibility of an automated self-cleaning fabric to save manpower and water? HKRITA has been introducing hi-tech applications into Hong Kong’s textile industry that won many awards. In ‘Let’s Chat’, they shared the sciences of textile technology development.
About HKRITA
Founded in 2006, HKRITA provides an one-stop service for technique transfer and R&D commercialisation that contributes to the textile and garment industry and economy development at large.”
Session 2 | Weaving with Human Rights
Speakers: Neighbourhood and Worker’s Service Centre (NWSC), HERproject
In a post-industrial society, factory workers were marginalised and forced to shift their career. In the glorious days of manufacturing industry in Hong Kong, however, workers at spinning mills worked on twelve-hour shifts. This was reduced to eight when the worker rights were much improved; annual bonus could be up to several months’ salary. Representatives of Neighbourhood and Worker’s Service Centre (NWSC) and HERproject shared the good and bad aspects of workers’ lives.
About NWSC
Founded in 1985 and rooted in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Ching districts, NWSC holds its purpose to serve the grassroot workers and citizens.
About HERproject
HERproject established a decade ago and has a global mission to assist female grassroots, to build supporting networks and improve their lives.
Session 3 | Weaving with Words Sharing
Speakers: Yuen Che Hung (Uncle Hung) and Choi Yuk Kuen, Bouie
‘Weaving with Words’ is a part of our cross-disciplinary project that started off with writing. Renowned story-teller Yuen Che Hung (Uncle Hung) has created a poetry work about textile history in Tsuen Wan, whilst illustrator Choi Yuk Kuen, Bouie responded to Uncle Hung’s text with her drawings. The criss-crossing of textual and visual works formed a beautiful tale of Tsuen Wan.
About Yuen Che Hung – Uncle Hung
Storyteller, poet. Worked as an educator at secondary schools, kindergartens and theatre groups. He founded ‘Tales Tell’, a monthly storytelling project across districts in Hong Kong.
About Choi Yuk Kuen, Bouie
Born in 1987 and lives in Tsuen Wan. In this project, she explored the lesser-known aspect of her community through illustration.
About Book Publication: ‘Weaving with Words
‘The Chinese radical ‘糸’ represents ‘fine silk’; many Chinese characters that share this Chinese radical are related to ‘weaving’ and ‘spinning’ in meaning. Weaving with Words is a book publication by CHAT, it was a part of their cross-disciplinary project that started off with writing. CHAT invited renowned storyteller and poet Yuen Che Hung (Uncle Hung) to create a poetry work about textile history in Tsuen Wan, whilst illustrator Choi Yuk Kuen, Bouie responded to Uncle Hung’s text with her drawings. Through this collaboration by the two artists, we wish to provide a channel for more imagination and understanding on weaving and community among the public.
Session 4 | Weaving with Heart
Speakers: Helen Tam, Ken Hung
Helen Tam learnt how to sew by chance. From making clothes for nieces to creating her own brand, Helen has been flying solo since the day she started. What are the ups and downs in making clothes for others? Hong Kong fashion designer Ken Hung, joined Helen to share about the fashion design business.
About Helen Tam
Entered the garment industry in 1980s. Her brand ‘Lovely Handmade by Helen’ specialises in hand-made children dresses, assisted by her sister and sewing ladies. Her works can be seen during local weekend fairs.
About Ken Hung
Born in 1981, Hong Kong fashion designer. Hung studied fashion design in Bunka Fashion College, Tokyo, Japan, specialises in pattern making.
LET’S SEE: Research Showcase
‘Connecting Heung Che’ was part of CHAT’s Community Engagement and Learning programme, in collaboration with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) in Heung Che Street Market, Tsuen Wan. Supported by science and technology, we developed custom-made aprons that cater to the different needs of wet market storekeepers and collected many stories at the neighborhood during the process.
HKRITA deployed advanced technology to combine four functions – waterproof, greaseproof, stain-free and wrinkle-free – on a fabric with self-cleaning treatment. CHAT Team worked together with shopkeepers in the market to understand their needs to this alterative, or almighty, apron.
