Abstract
Leather is a natural, sustainable material with unique properties when properly made and sourced. The research sets out to explore and evaluate innovative uses of leather, whilst being based in the East Midlands of England in an industrial town with a tradition in leather processing and the making of footwear, which provided a supportive environment to undertake the prototyping of artefacts that will showcase new possibilities. At the same time, the research interrogates knowledge transfer with communities of practice associated with a particular material, probing the interplay between craft traditions and innovation, and demonstrating the scope for ‘New Product Development’. Working closely aligned with a cluster, the research aims to shed light on the contribution of design and networks to give a future to the British leather industry. It does this principally by mapping the interactions of emerging design talent and established RCA alumni with Northampton shoemakers, apparel, the Leathersellers Company and Scottish tanneries producing automotive leather.
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | London |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Circular Taxidermia: a new approach in the arrangement of skin τάξις (táxis, “arrangement", "order”) + δέρμα (derma, “skin”); circular = systems thinking in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Profiles
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Dr Friedemann Schaber
- University of Northampton, Art & Design - Senior Lecturer in Product Design
- Centre for Global Economic and Social Development
- Centre for Sustainable Futures
Person: Academic