Exhibition celebrates royal textile firm

An exhibition telling the story of a luxury fabric manufacturer is opening in the theatre its founder created.

Nicholas Sekers began the West Cumberland Silk Mills - later Sekers Fabrics - in Whitehaven, Cumbria, in 1938, supplying fabrics for films, fashion houses and royalty.

He was also behind the creation of Rosehill Theatre where the free exhibition will run throughout February.

Visitors will be able to see objects which tell the story of the company as a major employer in west Cumbria for 70 years.

Funded by the National Lottery, the exhibition is described by organisers as a "sample book" of Sekers Fabric, with objects that have been handed down from generation to generation.

These include clothes, furniture, household objects and even a bin covered with the company's fabric.

Director Anne Timpson said they wanted to give the community "ownership of their heritage".

"We see this as not only telling a story of the past but making sense of the area's present."

As well as the exhibition there will be workshops and screenings of classic films with a connection to the company, such as My Fair Lady.

Many of the dresses in the musical used fabric made in Whitehaven.

Cultural historian Angharad Saunders has written a book about Rosehill Theatre and said Sekers became "a cultural brand".

"Miki, as Nicholas was known, was a fascinating character. He knew all the right people and got his fabrics into the right places.

"He did amazing things with silk, he was really ahead of his time."

Sekers moved from Whitehaven in 2006 and the factory has since been demolished.

"But there is still so much of the company left," Ms Saunders said.

"I think it's wonderful what people have hung on to and how much of its history has been uncovered."

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