LOCAL MP Michael Moore ever since learnt about the possibility of setting up a Scottish Centre of Textiles has been campaigning to ensure that it is located in the Borders where 80% of the textile industry of Scotland is based. In the Borders they have a world-class textiles industry and this Centre has the potential to further enhance its reputation as well as boost local tourism.

Mrs. Moore said that the Scottish Centre of Textiles project is a step closer as a meeting with stakeholders confirmed that the Centre would be based in Galashiels, a major commercial centre for the Borders region. The town is known for textile making.

Last year a feasibility study by Jura Consultants concluded that siting the proposed £5million development in Galashiels would be the best option.

Mrs Moore has been working closely with local textiles producers, Borders College, Heriot Watt University and project leaders, Hamish Carruthers and Alisdaire Lockhart to bring the SCOT project to the Borders.

They will now work with Heriot Watt University on the first stage of the SCOT project to establish a Scottish National Textile Archive. It is hoped that the archive will further enhance the reputation Scottish Textiles and add to the tourist and professional footfall to the Borders with all the added financial benefits that this would bring.

According to Mrs Moore, choosing where to locate the project in the Borders has been a difficult process but with the railway and other attractions such as Abbotsford, it was decided y that it would be based in Galashiels.

Mrs Moore is now look forward to working with the project leaders, their local textile industry and Heriot Watt University to put in place the first stage of project to establish a Scottish National Textile Archive,

The project is likely will bring together historic and contemporary textile collections produced in Scotland, for the public and global researchers to benefit from it.

From the Scottish Borders to the Highlands & Islands, there are a great variety of attractions in Scotland related to textiles. The Scottish textile industry has a rich and established heritage, creating many of world’s iconic textile products – from tartan to cashmere and to tweed. The quality has put Scottish textiles on the world map.