Darwen’s Rich Textile History
Darwen’s textile roots run deep; long before the arrival of the colossal industrial mills, farmers wove wool, flax and fustian by hand to sell to Manchester and Blackburn merchants for extra income. The humid conditions of rainy Lancashire and access to iron-free soft water from the moors to treat cloth made Darwen’s valley the ideal place for textile work, and these modest beginnings snowballed into the textile producing powerhouse that Darwen became during the Industrial Revolution.
While only echoes of large scale cotton production in Darwen remain today, the town still has strong links to textiles, and more recently to fashion and design. One shining example of this is Nicola at Sinensis Styles. We caught up with Nicola to find out more about her small creative business and how she got to where she is today.
Meet Nicola, the Creative Force Behind Sinensis Styles
Nicola was born and bred in Darwen, she learnt to sew on her grandmother’s Singer machine that was operated by a knee pedal, sparking a love for all things textiles and sewing. She studied Textile Design at Blackburn College and then headed to the University of Salford in 1994 to do a HND in Fashion Design, before embarking on a successful career working across the UK and Ireland in visual merchandising. Nicola’s visual merchandising career saw her work for top brands including Debenhams, C&A, Reiss, All Saints and French Connection, where she utilised her creative eye to design enchanting shop fronts and layouts.
Returning to her textile roots
After several years living in South Manchester, Nicola’s hometown of Darwen called her back (like it does for so many!), and she returned to the area twenty years ago. This is also when she returned to her textile roots. Nicola began teaching Fashion and Textiles at Blackburn college, sharing her sewing and pattern-cutting ability with both school leavers and adult students to help them build confidence and invaluable practical skills, to move onto higher education, employment or to fulfil their own personal goals.
Crafting Sustainable, Vintage-Inspired Accessories
Alongside teaching, Nicola is the creative entrepreneur behind Sinensis Styles. This boutique business is based from her sewing studio at her Darwen home, where Nicola crafts beautiful bags, purses and accessories from stunning fabrics, often vintage liberty prints and even fabrics donated from local factories that would otherwise go to landfill.
The Art of Advanced Pattern Cutting
Nicola’s vintage inspired designs are unique and striking, often incorporating embellishments like buttons and beads, and contrasting colours and patterns to create eye-catching pieces that will stand the test of time. It takes real talent to take something from a hand drawn 2D sketch to a 3D finished piece, and while we can’t deny that Nicola has a natural talent and ability, these skills were also honed through the Masters Degree in Pattern Cutting that Nicola completed at the University of Huddersfield.
A lifelong learner, Nicola has completed numerous qualifications and degrees over the years, and her role at Blackburn college enables her to maintain a connection to the world of education. Nicola says that her lecturing role at Blackburn College is not only incredibly rewarding, but also keeps her ideas and skills fresh. The contrast between lecturing and supporting students, to crafting new pieces at her home sewing room, helps to keep the creative juices flowing.
Upcoming Artisan Markets & Where to Shop
Nicola showcases her creations at artisan markets and events around the North West, including the Maker’s Markets. She will be at the Festival of Making Maker’s Market at Blackburn Cathedral on 4th July, along with a whole host of fellow creatives and crafters. You can also catch Nicola every Christmas at St Peter’s Church fair, or simply peruse her pieces on her Instagram, Facebook or her online Numonday shop.
The Future of Darwen’s Textile Industry
Darwen’s link to textiles continues to rumble on quietly, through independent makers like Nicola, and local businesses such as Herbert Parkinson and Minerva. In a society increasingly reliant on the digital world, it’s refreshing to see real practical skills endure (luckily in far better working conditions compared to those of our ancestors employed in the noisy and dangerous mills!).
Nicola urges anyone interested in studying Fashion & Textiles to look into funded courses for all ages at Blackburn College – it may be more accessible than you think.
