Macclesfield will honour its global reputation for industry and creativity with the first-ever Textile Week.

The Silk Museum has announced a new nine-day festival designed to connect the town's mighty industrial past with its vibrant, creative present.

Taking place from September 19 to 27, Macclesfield Textile Week is being delivered in partnership with Macclesfield Community ArtSpace, Macclesfield Town Council and many others.

Dr Clare Harding, director of the Silk Museum, said: "The Silk Museum is thrilled to be a key partner in this celebration.

"Our collections tell the story of a town that changed the world through fabric and design.

"Textile Week allows us to bring those stories to life, connecting our heritage with the incredible craftsmanship happening in Macclesfield today."

From its humble beginnings as a cottage industry, where women and children meticulously wrapped silk buttons, to a global powerhouse hosting 70 mills at its peak, Macclesfield's history is rooted in industrious ingenuity.

Today, that spirit lives on through a sophisticated network of textile artists, skilled residents, and innovative local businesses.

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The inaugural Macclesfield Textile Week will take place in September (Credit: Supplied)

The upcoming festival will take place at various venues across Macclesfield throughout September and offer an eclectic programme designed to celebrate the shared joy of creativity.

Highlights are set to include immersive workshops where visitors can learn everything from traditional silk-working techniques to contemporary textile art, expert-led talks on the town's global influence, and community showcases featuring local schools and creative charities.

Vicki Treanor from Macclesfield ArtSpace Community said: "Textile week is an opportunity to share and learn new skills, spend time together and celebrate our heritage.

"We are looking forward to providing a fun filled programme of community events that everyone can enjoy"

Rachael Higham, events officer at Macclesfield Town Council, added: "We are proud to support an initiative that honours our history while looking firmly toward our future.

"Macclesfield Textile Week highlights the economic and cultural importance of our creative industries and reinforces our town's status as a hub of innovation and community pride."

The festival aims to connect Macclesfield's industrial past with its creative present (Credit: Supplied)

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Get involved

The full programme will be announced in June but there are ways for interested partners, groups and individuals to start getting involved now.

For example, organisers are currently asking for contributions of handmade quilts, squares or blankets, to form part of an exhibition at Christ Church during the festival. If you're interested in submitting something, please contact [email protected].

Organisers are also looking for volunteers to help steward events during the week. If you would like to be part of the team, contact [email protected].

To find out more, including how to sign up to the newsletter to be first for updates on the festival, visit www.thesilkmuseum.co.uk/textileweek.

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If you own a local business and would like to sponsor us, get in touch at [email protected].