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Sekers Archive – an online home for the project and a lasting legacy of the community’s contributions.
Handpicked Productions celebrates the legacy of Sekers Fabrics with a new digital archive after their landmark exhibition.
From 2023, Handpicked Productions developed Sekers Objects – a community-focused heritage project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. During this period, they worked in partnership with local residents, former Sekers employees and volunteers to collect and preserve the stories, memories and material culture of Sekers Fabrics, a company that played a central role in West Cumbria’s social and industrial history.
In February 2025, this work culminated in a landmark exhibition at Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, held from 2–27 February. The exhibition brought together, for the first time, a remarkable collection of objects, garments and artworks linked to the history of Sekers. Among them were original items from the factory and handmade items created from fabric – such as wedding dresses, a Vicar’s cope, and a unique handmade dress cut from a Balmain pattern, made using Sekers fabric.
The exhibition also featured a striking Oliver Messel chandelier, originally hung in Rosehill House – home of Sir Miki Sekers, founder of Sekers Fabrics and the theatre – and a rare Percy Kelly painting of the factory, generously loaned from a private collection.
Now, Handpicked Productions is proud to launch the Sekers Archive website – an online home for the project and a lasting legacy of the community’s contributions.
This new digital platform is a place to explore the people, objects and designs behind Sekers. It is also a growing archive that can be added to in future projects, and if you missed the exhibition, there is a full walk through that people can enjoy.
Anne Timpson, A director at Handpicked said: “We couldn’t have done this without the local community, Rosehill staff and volunteers and the support from the staff and directors at Sekers Fabric in Dundee. This website ensures that the story of Sekers continues to be shared and celebrated by future generations while also being a foundation that can be added to in the future.”
