Aberdeen based Glencraft, manufacturer and supplier of bespoke and handcrafted beds and mattresses, is to collaborate with North East Scotland College (NESCOL) to launch a student project.
Students on NESCOL’s Fashion Design and Manufacture course will design a mattress headboard as a part of the Creative Textiles module. The project, which is designed to apply skills learned in a classroom environment to a real life scenario, will run over the entire term. Designs and concepts will then be submitted to the Glencraft board when a winner will be chosen and their work displayed at the company’s Lang Stracht showroom.
The social enterprise, which currently employs 46 craftspeople with a variety of abilities and disabilities, hosted an interactive tour of the workshop and facilities where the importance of design, costs, practicalities and deadlines were highlighted and discussed.
From here, three key themes which reflect the mattress making process - organic, heritage and industrial - were identified. Using these as inspiration, the students have now been developing their concepts for a number of weeks.
Glencraft’s general manager Graham McWilliam said: “We are really pleased to be able to support the work of the students - a number of whom may go on to work in the design industry. Glencraft provides a fantastic place for inspiration, not least because of our dedicated team, but also fostering creativity amongst the students, whilst also encouraging them to think about the practicalities of their designs. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing the final concepts.”
Commenting on the collaborative project, Malcolm Begg, lecturer at NESCOL said: “It’s fantastic that the students have been given the opportunity to see how the skills they have acquired, can be applied to develop an actual product. We always strive to give students an honest reflection of a real life working environment, which could be within a number of industries, including third sector – so, experience like this is invaluable.
“The students were very impressed with the factory and work ethic of Glencraft, as well as the support it gives its staff, which is demonstrated by a number of long serving colleagues.”
Glencraft has been producing a range of high quality, handmade products since 1843. As a registered charity all profits are re-invested to provide career opportunities for disadvantaged, disabled and visually impaired employees.
The social enterprise currently supplies mattresses to leading hotels including Gleneagles, The Bonham, The Chester Residence and the Marcliffe. The business holds a royal warrant and, by providing expertly designed and manufactured mattresses, has helped four generations of the Royal Family at Balmoral get a good night’s sleep.