This first episode of the thinking is material podcast, ‘Patterns of Migration,’ is conceived by Mary Ikoniadou, Carole Hunt and Billy Kiosoglou.
Patterns of Migration is an interdisciplinary project that investigates the sharing of stories through clothing and textiles, centering on themes of home and belonging. Initiated by Dr Carole Hunt and Dr Mary Ikoniadou in Lancashire, Northwest England, this initiative highlights the area’s deep-rooted connections to migration and textile production, influenced by colonial and working-class histories. Graphic Designer and lecturer Billy Kiosoglou later joined the team, enhancing the project with his design expertise for the online exhibition.
The project explores how personal clothing and objects, as well as items from textile collections, can spark narratives of movement and migration, intertwining local and global textile heritage with cultural histories of memory and identity. It offers insights into how textiles influence cultural identity and heritage through their connections to past and present migration experiences.
Textiles play an essential role in daily life, carrying symbolic meanings and reflecting both individual and collective identities. They embody the stories of their makers and the craftsmanship involved. The project’s examination of textiles’ functional, symbolic, and sensory characteristics promotes dialogues that enrich understanding.
The online exhibition presents a diverse array of textile objects from around the world, showcasing the memories and lived experiences of their owners. Complementarily, community workshops in Burnley, Lancashire, utilized participatory methods to engage local women, including refugees and asylum seekers. These workshops facilitated storytelling through sewing techniques, emphasizing personal narratives of mobility and belonging and creating safe spaces for collaboration and discussion.