A new digital archive has been launched to celebrate the legacy of Sekers Fabrics.
Handpicked Productions, which hosted a landmark exhibition in February, has now unveiled the Sekers Archive, a website that will act as an 'online home for the project' as well as a 'lasting legacy of the community’s contributions.'
The launch of the website comes after the success of the February exhibition at Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven, which saw items associated with the company displayed for the first time, including original factory items and handmade items, such as wedding dresses, a vicar's cope, and a handmade dress cut from a Balmain pattern.
The exhibition also featured an Oliver Messel chandelier, originally hung in Rosehill House, and a Percy Kelly painting of the factory, which was generously loaned from a private collection.
Handpicked Productions started the Sekers Objects project in 2023 as a community-focused heritage project that is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
They worked closely with people from the area, former Sekers employees, and volunteers to collect and preserve the stories, memories, and material culture of Sekers Fabrics, a company that played a central role in West Cumbria’s social and industrial history.
The new website, sekersarchive.org.uk, will be a 'place to explore the people, objects and designs behind Sekers', and will include a virtual walk-through of the February exhibition.
It will also be a growing archive that can be added to in future projects.
Anne Timpson, a director at Handpicked, added: "We couldn’t have done this without the local community, Rosehill staff, and volunteers, and the support from the staff and directors at Sekers Fabric in Dundee.
"This website ensures that the story of Sekers continues to be shared and celebrated by future generations while also being a foundation that can be added to in the future."
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