ForImmediateRelease
MILL6FoundationAnnounces2017SummerProgram
‘MILL6GETSET–Hey!Let’sWEAVE!’
Textile,ArtsandHeritageFestival
EnliveningthelegacyofHongKong’shistorictextileindustry
throughworkshops,talks,toursandmore
IllustrationbyBouieChoi
CourtesytheartistsandMILL6Foundation
HONGKONG–1June2017–MILL6Foundation(MILL6)ispleasanttopresentits2017SummerProgram,
‘MILL6 GET SET – Hey! Let’s WEAVE!’, as part of MILL6’s ongoing Community Engagement and Learning
programs,dedicatedtoreactivatingthelegacyofHongKong’stextileindustryandtobridgecommunities
andgenerationsthroughparticipatorytextileexperiences.Thesecondeditionofathree-partseries,itwill
feature five core program segments, centered around the theme ‘Textiles & Responsibilities,’ offering a
platform for the wider community to access, understand and engage with the city’s urban and industrial
legacy,whilstcontextualizingitwithinthesociallyconsciouscontemporarylandscape.Aseriesofongoing
initiativeshavebeenorganizedthroughouttheyear,culminatinginthisone-dayfestivaltobeheldon19
AugustatFukLoiEstate,whichislocatedintheneighborhoodofMILL6’sfuturehomeinTsuenWan.This
year’sSummerProgrambuildsonthesuccessof‘MILL6WARMUP–Makeapieceofclothingforyourself’
in2016,whichreceivedtheAwardforArtsPromotionfromtheHongKongArtsDevelopmentCouncil.
Announcing the new initiative, Him Lo, Community Engagement & Learning Program Curator of MILL6
Foundationsaid,‘MILL6hasacoreobjectiveofreachingouttothewidersocietybybuildingaccessiblecolearningandsharingplatforms.ThroughtheMILL6GETSETSummerProgram,weaimtoconnectdifferent
communitiesbyinvitingthemtosharetheirstories,skillsetsandcreativities.Throughthehands-onevents,
viatheintermediationoftextile,sustainablemethodsofproduction,anduniqueusageofpublicspace,we
inviteaudiencesofallagestodiscoverexcitingpossibilitiesoftextilearts,andtore-inventtheirsustainable
values and relationships to our society. We hope to thoughtfully develop and connect the community of
TsuenWan,andforgenewexperiencesandexperimentationsacrossthecity.’
‘MILL6 GET SET – Hey! Let’s WEAVE!’ presents a series of oral history sharings, cross-media literature
project, talks, workshops and tours in collaboration with Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong Research Institute of
TextilesandApparel(HKRITA),madeinsample,TheConservationAssociationCentreforHeritage(CACHe)
andretiredworkers,localartists,writers,andrespectivepartners.Opentothepublicfreeofchargeon19
August,thecuratedactivationsaredividedintofivesessions:Workshops,PublicWeaving,Talks,Showcase
of‘ConnectingHeungChe’,andCultureTours.AlleventsareconductedinCantonese.
Workshops(12:30PM–6:00PM|15participantspersession)
• Printmaking–localdesignerGeeioYuentoholdtwosessionsof‘one-linedrawing’workshopwith
studentsandvisitorstocreatesilkscreenprintsofthelandscapeofTsuenWan.
• Upcycling slippers – a rare tutorial by Aunt May, an opportunity for multi-generational exchange
withtheveteransewingworker.
• IntroductionofSewingMachines–atalkanddemonstrationbyMasterWong,afactorymechanic
whoensuredthesmoothrunningoftheproductionlineequipment.
*Allparticipantsarewelcometotakehometheirhandmadeproducts.
PublicWeaving(12:30PM–6:00PM)
6 public weaving exercises and demonstration of 4 weaving methods that are developed from ‘Weaving
Wednesday’,anon-goingweeklycommunitystudyandexperimentationprojectatFukLoiEstate,featuring
BackstrapWeavingbyMILL6textileupcyclingdesignerKenHung,andWeavingCornersby‘MILL6GetSet’
partnerandlocalsocialenterprise‘madeinsample’,toencouragetheperformingaspectofpublicweaving
throughrecycledmaterials.
• BackstrapLoom–visitorswillhaveachancetoworkontheoldestformofloomintheworldthatis
easilyportableandwornoverthebody.
• PortableWoodenWeavingKit–ahands-onworkshopforparticipations
• Weaving Corner – a square-shaped floating installation that welcomes four participants to
collectivelyweave.
• CardboardLoom–ledbyKenHung,recycledcardboardisdesignedtoimitateaweavingmachine,
offeringthepubliccostefficient,innovativeskillsforreinterpretingunwantedmaterials.
• PangJaiMachine-ademonstrationontheintricateskillofmechanicalweavingbyMasterWong.
• Weaving Wall – visitors are invited to weave together on a large colorful wall at Fuk Loi Estate,
utilizingpublicfencesandpolestocreateacollaborativeartwork.
Talks(12:30PM–6:00PM|45minspertalk|30seats)
Themed around ‘Textile & Responsibilities,’ the talks will explore and promote dialogue on critical issues
suchaseco-materials,textiletechnology,aswellasthechallengesfacingtheindustrytoday:
• ‘WeavingwithWords’Sharing-YuenCheHung(UncleHung),acelebratedlocalwriter,andpainter
Bouie Choi, will share their newly authored book of poems and illustrations relating to their
personalmemoriesandstoriesofTsuenWan,adocumentthathaspreservedvaluableoralhistories
forthenextgeneration.
• ‘WeavingwithTechnology’–HongKongResearchInstituteofTextilesandApparel(HKRITA)will
offer insights into the new innovations in materials, methods, textile technology, as well as latest
trendsandresearchfindings.
• ‘WeavingwithHumanRights’–sharingsessionbyNeighbourhoodandWorker’sServicesCentre
withHERproject,exploringthepost-industrialeraofHongKong,theboomofthetextileindustryin
the1980s,andhowthesetransitionshaveinfluencedacityanditsworkforce.HERprojectwillalso
sharetextilelabourtrendsandinsights,focusedonpan-Asiancountries.
• ‘Weaving with Heart’–atalkbyseasonedseamstressHelen TamandMILL6designerKen Hung,
who will share their personal journey, from making garments for her children or mastering tailor
andfashiondesignskillsfromJapan,tobuildingandgrowingtheirownbrands.
Showcaseof‘ConnectingHeungChe’(12:00PM–6:00PM)
• Theexhibitionshowcasestheresearchfindingsof‘ConnectingHeungChe’,ayear-longcommunity
research program in collaboration with HKRITA, experimenting with textiles and technology for
sustainabledesign.Facilitatingadialoguebetweenlocalcommunitiesandpublicinstitutions,MILL6
teamsupwiththeHKRITAscientiststounderstandthepracticalneedsofHeungCheMarket’sstall
owners, reactively developing upcycled products that fit the daily necessities of the hawkers. The
aprons and delivery bags, made from technologically enhanced textiles made of ‘chitosan fibers’,
apply ‘self-cleaning’ technology to meet the needs of stalls owners, as well as the preliminary
research findings, will be displayed in the central information board to illustrate the collaborative
learningprocessandaplatformwherebyusers,inventorsandmakerscanexchangetheirideasinan
iterativecreativeproductdevelopmentprocess.
CultureTours(12:00PM–6:00PM|2sessions|Around90minuteseach)
• Two bespoke cultural tours will be offered to the public, in collaboration with The Conservation
AssociationCentreforHeritage(CACHe),guidingparticipantstohistoricalspotsinthisindustrially
richpartofHongKong,whichistightlywovenintothecity’svibranthistory.
*DetailsofallactivitiestobeannouncedinJuly,RSVPessentialtoCultureTours.
‘MILL6GETSET–Hey!Let’sWEAVE!’offersafreshperspectivetorediscovertheoftenoverlookedprofile
of Tsuen Wan, via the lens of textiles. The welcoming one-day event presents authentic experiences and
activecommunityengagementandlearning,coretoMILL6Foundation’svisionandmission.
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GeneralEnquiries:
MILL6Foundation|[email protected]|+85239792301
MediaEnquiries:
CdD.
StephaniePoon|[email protected]|+85262097957
CandySum|[email protected]|+85294197189
*Interviews with Him Lo, Curator of Community Engagement & Learning Program, MILL6 Foundation,
Mizuki Takahashi and Chin Chin Teoh, Co-Directors of MILL6 Foundation, and collaborators and
participantscanbearrangedbyrequest.
NOTESTOEDITORS:
AboutMILL6Foundation
MILL6Foundationisanon-profit,fund-seekingartsandculturalorganizationandacharityinHongKong.
Establishedin2015andaspartofaheritageconservationprojectoftheformercotton-spinningfactoryNan
FungTextileMills,thespaceisexpectedtobecompletedin2018.
Centeredontextileartsandcultureandresearchonitsheritageandinnovation,MILL6isestablishingthe
permanentcollectionwhilecuratingaseriesofpre-openingprogramsconsistingof:Exhibition,Community
Engagement,Learning,ArchiveandArtist-in-Residence.Itaimstofosterindependentcreativepractice,as
wellastoexplorenewmeaningsandexperienceoftextilearts,cultureandinnovationwithlocal
communities.Theorganizationiscommittedtopreservingtheessenceoflocalcultureandheritage,
conservingthevaluedstoriesofthetextileindustry,anddrivingacontinuousdialoguebetweenHongKong
andinternationalcreators.