Welcome to Britain’s Premier Textile Society

Established in 1893, the Bradford Textile Society is the oldest textile society in Britain, if not in the world. Despite all the changes which have taken place in the textile industry since its formation, the Society continues to thrive. Its monthly programme of meetings from October to April provides an opportunity for everyone with an interest in textiles to meet and discuss a range of textile-related topics with an invited speaker.

President – Malcolm Campbell

Malcolm Campbell began his career in this glorious textile industry in 1969 as apprentice weaver and textile designer for A&J Macnab of Haddington in Scotland. He attended the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels on block release and in 1975 was awarded the City & Guilds of London Institute certificate in Textile Design and Colour and Business Management.

In 1975 Malcolm moved to Yorkshire as Assistant Designer with Hirst & Mallinson of Huddersfield and in 1978 was appointed Sales and Marketing Director of West Riding Fabrics in Leeds. He moved into the retail sector and back to Scotland in 1983 with The Edinburgh Woollen Mill as Design and Marketing Director. In 1990 Malcolm moved back to Yorkshire as Design, Sales and Marketing Director for the Parkland Group. Malcolm was appointed Managing Director of Alexander Drew, textile printers in Rochdale in 2000 and in 2002 became Marketing Director for The Woolmark Company in Ilkley until 2007 when he joined the Holland & Sherry Group as Sales and Marketing Director. Malcolm is currently working for Retail & Textile Co. and The Cloth of Kings.

In 2004 Malcolm was appointed the first ever Scotsman to be President of the Bradford Textile Society and in 2006 was awarded Fellowships of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, The Textile Institute and the Royal Society of Arts. He has lectured on wool globally; to Australian farmers ,various industry sectors ,and to textile design students . Malcolm believes that textile education is crucial to the future of our industry, not only to the technicians but to the retailers, the retail sales staff and the consumer to stop price depreciation and the move to less expensive, expendable cloths and to re-establish the versatility and the outstanding value of nature’s wonderful luxury natural fibres.

Consultancy work has included Harris Tweed (Carloway Mill), men’s formal tailoring (Skopes), interiors (Art of the Loom), brand creation, textile design and work in China, Egypt and India.

Malcolm has published a trilogy of three children’s books, ‘Malcolm the weaver’, in collaboration with The Society of Dyers and Colourists to educate 4 to 8 year old children in the art of colour and the craft of textiles, nature, the environment and sustainability, and is currently developing a pilot animation programme with BBC Alba in Scotland.

More links:

BBC Scotland CBeebies Malcolm the Weaver

#malcolmtheweaver