​​The Lone Maker: Developing a comprehensive theory of ecology, benefit and service delivery for remote or dispersed textile makers in the age of co-creation and digital communities. ​

What is the ecology of 21st C textile makers working in isolation?

A thriving ‘creative class’ is a lure to wider prosperity (Florida).  21stC Creative Industries theory has focused on growth, urbanity, communities, co-creation, IRL and online collaboration. Contemporary lone makers have received less critical attention yet understanding there ecology is critical to a sustainable culture for solo- micro practitioners.

​The researcher will interrogate lone textile makers’ binary of social isolation and connectivity. Lone makers contribute to supply chains from physical isolation including remote locations and well- populated areas without a maker community; perhaps making niche product.

​A literature review, and case studies identification may be followed by a constructivist stance, drawing on multiple sources of data and information including:

Maker survey, interview and/or observation to investigate tangible making technologies, agency and self-esteem.

​Thematic analysis of product data, purposefully harvested from catalogues, webshop  (product types, batch volumes, customisation).

​Analysis of social media,communications and product development timelines (technical challenges and operating strategies); Identification of accessible or emerging technologies or needs.

​Consideration of place- notingcritics characterisefully-automated mass-production as placeless.

​Identification of social interactions of lone makers (patterns of face-to-face 1.2.1 and volume engagement or collaboration [customers, buying, production fieldwork)?

​Evaluation of saliency of lifestyle (sentiment, sufficiency, community).

​Ecosustainability: Makers’ understanding of environmental sustainability varies greatly. Eco modernism has been criticised for perpetuating growth-based strategies. An environmental audit of lone maker ecologies will enhance understanding of solo/micro practitioners’ place-based making, supply chain resilience and how sustainability is enacted in traditional or innovative textile product.

​A useful lens may be Walker’s needs, values and meaning to understand practical social personal and economic dimensions. Proposals of other methods are also welcomed.