By KLTV Newsdesk –

From upcycling and mending to giant floral displays and global embroidery projects, the WOVEN Festival returns this June to honour tradition and innovation in textile arts.

Celebrating the Fabric of Kirklees

WOVEN, the biennial festival celebrating Kirklees’s rich textile heritage and forward-thinking innovation, is back for 2025 — and its newly announced programme promises a vibrant mix of creativity, community, and craft.

Running throughout the month of June, the festival will feature over 100 events spread across the district, inviting people of all ages to get involved.

Expect a month-long celebration from 1st to 30th June that includes everything from yarn bombing and mending to wet felting, loom weaving, and screen printing.

Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or simply curious, WOVEN 2025 offers a hands-on experience for everyone.

What’s On Across the District

The festival’s packed calendar includes rag-rugging workshops at the National Coal Mining Museum, a spectacular floral installation in Ravensthorpe, and natural dyeing sessions in Skelmanthorpe.

In Dewsbury, Thread Republic will be teaching batik techniques, while the West Yorkshire Print Workshop will offer textile patch screen printing.

Attendees can also engage in thought-provoking discussions with the Red Shed Players at Tolson Museum or dive into community-led clothes swaps and stitch sessions happening in local libraries, museums, and cultural venues throughout Kirklees.

One of the festival’s standout features is The Red Dress, a remarkable collaborative embroidery project led by British artist Kirstie Macleod.

On display at Oakwell Hall throughout the festival, the dress showcases intricate needlework from over 300 embroiderers across 51 countries, telling powerful stories from women around the globe.

The WOVEN Festival ‘Yarn Bomb’ at the Huddersfield Train Station

A Grand Opening on World Stitch Day

WOVEN 2025 will launch in style on World Stitch Day, 1st June, at Oakwell Hall.

This special event invites community groups, artists, and textile lovers to come together, showcase their skills, and celebrate the shared heritage that binds the people of Kirklees.

Councillor Carole Pattison, Leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet Member for Culture, said: “This is a whole month of exciting creativity and community connection, as WOVEN 2025 celebrates our local history and our diverse cultural tapestries with innovative spirit.

“I hope this will inspire a new generation of textile enthusiasts and a renewed connection with the history at the heart of these communities.”

A Festival Owned by All

Though initiated by Kirklees Council, WOVEN aims to be a truly community-owned celebration.

It brings together local textile businesses, charities, heritage sites, educational institutions, artists, and residents in a shared exploration of past and future textile traditions.

The full WOVEN 2025 programme is now available online, with events open to all and many free of charge.

Whether you’re keen to learn a new skill, reconnect with your heritage, or simply enjoy the creative buzz, WOVEN 2025 invites you to get involved and be part of the fabric of Kirklees.

View the full programme and plan your month of making, mending, and meaningful connection