Illuminated dresses inspired by Horrockses to light up Preston's Encounter Festival
The costumes draw inspiration from the distinctive designs of the 1950s and the legacy of Horrockses, Preston’s famous textile and fashion company.
A spectacular collection of illuminated dresses inspired by Preston's Horrockses fashion will take to the streets as part of this year's Encounter Festival.
The eye-catching creations have been made as part of the Horrockses on Stilts project, which will see eight performers take part in the city's famous Torchlight Procession.
Creative director Joshua Holden, who is also director of Preston-based Wolf Entertainments and Events, has spent the past 12 weeks training the eight participants in stilt walking ahead of the festival.
He said the project had been a labour of love, combining performance, costume-making and Preston's rich textile history.
Joshua said: "For the past 12 weeks, I've been training eight people across Preston to learn stilt walking to take part in the Encounter Festival Preston.”
"I've also been making some custom dresses, but for the stilt walkers, they will be lit up and illuminated for the torchlight procession."
The costumes have been inspired by the distinctive designs of the 1950s and the legacy of Horrockses, the famous Preston textile and fashion company.
Joshua has worked with members of the local community during sewing sessions held at the Foxton Centre, Harris Museum and Gujarati Hindu Society Temple.
Joshua said: "Across 15 sessions, in 12 weeks of sewing, I've made 21 dresses, all inspired by the 1950s and Horrockses of Preston."
The finished collection will be unveiled at Encounter Festival Preston this Saturday 19th September, when the stilt walkers will join other performers taking part in the Torchlight Procession.
Encounter Festival Preston is an annual free festival and this year boasts a variety of entertainment, music, magic, dance, theatre, shows and workshops around the city centre from 12pm until 9pm, with the procession getting under way at 7pm.
Spectators can expect a colourful parade featuring stilt walkers, drummers, Morris dancers, carnival troupes, uniformed groups, musicians and puppets.
The procession will set off from Moor Park before making its way along Deepdale Road and Church Street, eventually finishing in front of the Guild Hall.
The celebrations will end with Encounter's annual fireworks finale, lighting up the Preston skyline.
For Joshua and the performers, the event will be a chance to bring a piece of Preston's fashion history back to life – with a modern twist – as the illuminated Horrockses-inspired costumes make their way through the heart of the city.