The Power of Textiles and Mary, Queen of Scots: Clare Hunter in conversation with Tamara Cincik

Join Clare Hunter, Scottish textile artist in conversation with Tamara Cincik, founder and CEO of Fashion Roundtable, as they discuss the power of textiles and the influence of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The parallels between Mary, Queen of Scots’ use of clothing and the strategies of contemporary fashion designers are striking. While separated by over 450 years, the underlying philosophy remains identical: fashion is never just about aesthetics; it is a weapon of communication, political power, and personal rebellion with modern designers mirroring Mary's 16th-century textile strategies in several distinct ways:

The deep-rooted fascination with the Stuart Queen continues today. Dior’s recent 2024 Cruise Collection was staged in Scotland featuring punk-infused Renaissance silhouettes, tartan, and defiant embroidery and was directly inspired byClare’s book: Embroidering her Truth.

Tamara Cincik is a prominent British fashion industry leader, stylist, and the CEO and founder of Fashion Roundtable, a leading think tank dedicated to the intersection of fashion, policy, and sustainability. She is also the driving force behind the Great British Wool Revival - a major initiative aimed at rebuilding the UK’s broken fibre economy, which she launched in September 2024 in partnership with The King’s Foundation.

Clare Hunter is a Scottish textile artist and author of books including Threads of Life: the History of the World through the Eye of a Needle, Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power and Making Matters: In Search of Creative Wonders.

A Q&A and book signing will follow the talk. Please note, we cannot offer refunds for ticketed events. Professional photography and videography may take place during this event.