Professor Sheilagh Brown, former Head of Design at Marks and Spencer and Philippa Watkins, a lecturer in textiles at the Royal College of Art, led workshops for 40 fashion and textile designers on the silk route in Samarkand, Tashkent, Bukhara and Margilan.

The purpose of the workshops was to help designers and silk producers transform their traditional craft products into production items with export value. For example, textile producers were encouraged to develop new designs based on 19th century Uzbek ikat patterns.

At the end of British week a fashion show was held featuring the Uzbek designers' work. Philippa Watkins continues to travel to Uzbekistan for consultancy with the factories in Margilan.

Project Manager: Emily Campbell