FROM DERBYSHIRE’S TEXTILE PAST TO CIRCULAR FUTURE: FREE CREATIVE FESTIVAL COMES TO MASSON MILLS

Women Who Make, a day of making, creativity, heritage and ideas, is coming to Matlock Bath this October

A historic Derbyshire textile mill will be transformed into a celebration of women, creativity and sustainable making this October, as the Women Who Make Festival, part of the Derbyshire Makes wider programme, returns to Masson Mills, in Matlock.

Taking place on Saturday 10th October, 10am-5pm, the FREE festival brings together female artists, makers, designers, manufacturers, writers and creative practitioners for a day of workshops, talks, exhibitions, demonstrations and hands-on making.

Building on the success of the first Women Who Make festival which took place last year, the 2026 festival at Masson Mills takes inspiration from World Circular Textiles Day, asking us to think differently about the things we make, buy and use, from where materials come from and who makes them, to how we can repair, reuse and reimagine what we already have.

And there’s arguably no better setting for that conversation than Masson Mills. Built by Richard Arkwright in 1783, the historic mill was one of the world’s first water-powered cotton spinning mills. During the festival, its textile heritage will meet contemporary creativity and ideas for a more circular future. Masson Mills is part of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and a Grade II listed building.

What to expect from the festival

Visitors can explore the Women Who Make Artist Showcase, meeting women artists and makers and discovering the stories, skills and ideas behind their work.

There’s also The Ethical Atelier, curated by Abigail Wastie, bringing together women manufacturing fashion, accessories and homeware in the UK, alongside conversations exploring the future of UK fashion manufacturing and women’s experiences within the industry.

For hands-on creativity, visitors can join the Dare to Dream Sewing Bee, try visible mending and textile upcycling, create textile dragonflies from scraps, or take part in a collaborative workshop exploring identity, materials and the journeys we carry with us. For fans, BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee Alex Murphy will be part of the event, bringing a selection of clothes made during the show, running a transformation activity.

One of the festival’s visual highlights will be The Ripple Effect, a striking wearable textile installation created by Netty Lou of Story of Things with more than 100 community contributors, using existing clothing to explore fast fashion, throwaway culture and our relationship with the natural world. There will also be plenty to discover across the mill itself, including historic machinery and weaving demonstrations, with contemporary weavers Ruth Faris and Bea Uprichard of Fishbone & Sycamore bringing modern practice into the historic setting. The talks programme features Fashion Revolution co-founder Carry Somers, designer and bespoke shoemaker Sasha Archer, contemporary weavers Fishbone & Sycamore and a host of other creative voices exploring everything from fashion and footwear to craft, materials and the future of making.

A hands-on and inspiring creative experience

Festival entry is completely FREE, with most activities available on a drop-in basis. Selected talks, workshops and walks require advance booking. There will also be food, coffee, live music, creative walks and plenty of opportunities simply to explore the beautiful Masson Mill and soak up the creative and historic atmosphere.
Whether you’re a lifelong maker, a textile lover, a sustainability enthusiast, a creative, or simply looking for something different to do this October, Women Who Make offers a chance to get hands-on, meet inspiring women and see this remarkable piece of Derbyshire’s industrial heritage in a completely new way.

Claire Tymon, Creative Director of Women Who Make, said: “Masson Mills feels like the perfect place to bring Women Who Make to life. It is a place with such a rich history of making and innovation, and we’re using that history as a starting point to ask some very contemporary questions – about what we make, who makes it, what we value and what happens to things when we’re finished with them.
“At the heart of this year’s festival is the idea that a circular future isn’t just about materials and waste; it’s also about people, skills, stories and connection. We want to celebrate the women behind the things we make and wear, bring some of those often-hidden stories into view, and create a space where people can learn, experiment and imagine what making differently might look like.
“Most importantly, this isn’t a festival where we’re presenting one answer. It’s an invitation to come along, get involved, make something, meet people and have conversations – and perhaps leave looking at the things around you in a slightly different way!”

Find out more about the activities and what’s on here:
Derbyshire Makes – Women Who Make Festival

Register your free place and book your free place on the creative sessions here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-who-make-festival-at-masson-mills-tickets-1985786556045?aff=oddtdtcreator

Women Who Make is part of the wider Derbyshire Makes programme, celebrating the county’s creative legacy through cultural events, community projects and artist-led activity.

Masson Mills, 41 Derby Road, Matlock Bath, DE4 3PY