A PAST EXPERIMENT

Today I'm delving deeper into past social and economic experiment - the Brynmawr Furniture Makers Ltd of the 1920's and 30's...... a project that continues to inspire, intrigue and surprise me. It's also a sad stark reminder that once upon a time and not too long ago when I joined the Furniture industry in 1986 that not only did Wales have the biggest furniture manufacturer in the UK (Christie Tyler - & where I started) but it also this industry was one of the biggest employers in South Wales. Design can and must play a key role in the regeneration of this industry, its skill-base, it's out-put, its economic value and a sustainable manufacturing future for Wales...... I might well turn this into a 'provocation' when I give a talk at the ECONetwork event next week!

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