What's She Doing Here? Women at Work 1918-2018 is a new exhibition in The Little Museum of Dublin which aims to highlight trailblazing women in Ireland.
To celebrate these women, we're sharing Beta Bajgartova's short film about Niki Collier, a felt designer who forged her career despite the odds - watch it above.
Felt, a fabric made from condensed fibres such as wool, is considered to be the oldest known textile. The material has many uses but, historically, was primarily used by women for making clothes. However, this changed when the Industrial Revolution and new technologies brought clothing production to the workforce.
Women's homespun expertise were used (and often exploited) in these new factories, making textiles one of the first industries with an even gender balance among its workforce. Today, manufacturing is generally outsourced around the globe, but there is still room for small-scale, artisan craft and design.
Niki Collier, who designs clothes and accessories out of felt, says she loves using wool for its plasticity because "it can burst to any dimension, texture and purpose", allowing her to create stories and give shape to her ideas.
From birth, Niki had only limited use in her right hand, but she refused to let circumstances or the opinions of other define her. All garments and accessories she creates can be put on and taken off with one hand.
Watch Beta Bajgartova's short film about 81-year-old rally driver, Rosemary Smith here.
What's She Doing Here? is a timely exhibition that shines a light on historical heroines such as Eileen Gray and Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to women of today who excel in their industries.
Drop in to get a look at some of Beta Bajgartova's portraits from her book, A Woman’s Work as well as Bren Luke's illustrations and Bridget Hourican’s work on the historical context.
What’s She Doing Here? is running now until June 10th, 2018, at The Little Museum of Dublin, 15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.
