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Oct 15, 2024

King says sewing a button and hemming clothes are key life skills

Monarch hailed for his passion for sustainability as his foundation’s textile programme celebrates 10th anniversary The King believes that sewing a button and hemming fabric are “fundamental” skills

Monarch hailed for his passion for sustainability as his foundation’s textile programme celebrates 10th anniversary

The King believes that sewing a button and hemming fabric are “fundamental” skills that help preserve the life of clothes, it has emerged.

The monarch, who has long eschewed fashion trends in favour of recycling old favourites, is this month celebrating the 10th anniversary of The King’s Foundation’s series of textile programmes.

Jacqueline Farrell, the education director at the foundation, said the King was “passionate” about the sustainability of materials.

His personal interest in the British fashion industry, coupled with his desire to preserve handcraft skills for the next generation, inspired every one of the courses.

Writing for The Telegraph, Ms Farrell said: “At the heart of our teaching, His Majesty is keen that participants are equipped with fundamental skills that preserve the life of our clothes, such as simply being able to sew on a button, or being able to alter and hem garments.”

It comes as YouGov research revealed that 74 per cent of adults claim that they are able to sew on a button. However, 20 per cent admitted that they cannot sew on a button and 6 per cent said they did not know if they could.

The foundation’s Future Textiles programme is aimed at all levels from secondary school pupils through to embroidery and millinery courses run in conjunction with Chanel.

Since the initiative was launched in 2014 at the foundation’s headquarters, Dumfries House, in Ayrshire, it has expanded to the King’s Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire and multiple sites in London, with more than 7,000 people involved.

There have been collaborations with Burberry, Yoox Net a Porter, Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane.

At the other end of the scale, there is a weekly community sewing bee for anyone aged 30-80 and a Knitwise project that has appealed to knitters all over the world to contribute 20cm squares for a major art installation.

Ms Farrell said: “The King has been celebrated for decades as a sartorial icon, having laid out his blueprint for sustainable style as the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history.

“And the incredible thing about His Majesty is that he practises what he preaches.

“Not only does he regularly re-wear items that have formed part of his wardrobe for decades, but through his charity The King’s Foundation, he is educating a new generation of talented artisans and ensuring the precious handcraft skills that underpin the textiles industry are not lost.”

The King’s passion for sustainability has long seen him eschew fashion trends in favour of re-wearing favoured garments such as his late father’s double-breasted camel coat, a herringbone tweed coat he has had since 1986, a grey striped suit featuring a discreet patch and a restored Barbour jacket.

In 2020, he told The Telegraph: “People throw so much away when they could easily mend.”

Last month, members of the Knitwise programme presented the King with a handknitted cake to celebrate a decade of Future Textiles.

The cake will be on display at a new exhibition at the Garrison Chapel, London, alongside a range of garments produced by students and alumni over the 10 years of the course.

By Jacqueline Farrell

His Majesty the King has been celebrated for decades as a sartorial icon, having laid out his blueprint for sustainable style as the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history.

And the incredible thing about His Majesty is that he practises what he preaches.

Not only does he regularly re-wear items that have formed part of his wardrobe for decades, but through his charity The King’s Foundation, he is educating a new generation of talented artisans and ensuring the precious handcraft skills that underpin the textiles industry are not lost.

His Majesty is passionate about the sustainability of materials and taking inspiration from the natural world – something that is central to our work at The King’s Foundation.

As a charity, we focus on supporting people, places and the planet.

Inspired by nature and tradition, we build sustainable communities and transform lives through our practical education programmes.

I have been lucky enough to work as education director for The King’s Foundation for a decade now, based at Dumfries House, a unique estate which – thanks to His Majesty’s great vision – now encompasses an expansive education campus.

Dumfries House was the first home to our Future Textiles initiative, celebrating its 10th anniversary this month.

It has since expanded to Highgrove Gardens and our sites in London.

A special exhibition of work from the programme opens this week at the Garrison Chapel, The King’s Foundation’s exhibition space in London.

Over 10 years, the Future Textiles programme has been working to address a skills gap within the UK textile industry, and raising awareness of the need for circularity in fashion.

Targeted at secondary school pupils, community groups and adults with ambitions to work in the industry, the programmes range from intensive courses producing luxury collections, to workshops for talented knitting and sewing enthusiasts.

At the heart of our teaching, His Majesty is keen that participants are equipped with fundamental skills that preserve the life of our clothes, such as simply being able to sew on a button, or being able to alter and hem garments.

This ethos is visible within our Community Sewing Bee, which meets weekly at Dumfries House.

Aged 30-80, all of our members enjoy the camaraderie and inspiration the group provides.

We also work hand in hand with industry to ensure that our graduates are meeting its needs.

The highest level of our training is our Modern Artisan programme, delivered in partnership with Net a Porter, which provides graduates with an exceptional skill set in luxury manufacturing, by creating their own ready-to-wear collection.

At Highgrove, our collaboration with Chanel is promoting hand embroidery skills and millinery.

Equally, our Knitwise programme, which was introduced in collaboration with the Joseph Ettedgui Foundation, was formed to give beginners the opportunity to develop their technical knitting skills to industry standards – and begin to earn an income from their products.

The best part of the 10 years has been seeing our graduates being recognised by the King.

I was once in their very position. My first fashion business was supported with a grant from The Prince’s Trust, and during a chance meeting with the King we bonded over a shared passion for the natural world.

It’s therefore even more heartening to see how buoyed they are by His Majesty’s support, setting them on the right path for the future.

Jacqueline Farrell is education director for The King’s Foundation