This Black History Month, the Birmingham Back to Backs on Hurst Street will be running two events, on 9 and 19 October, and a free exhibition celebrating the life and work of popular local tailor, George Saunders.
George came to Birmingham from St Kitts in 1958 and was the last resident of the Back to Backs – running a successful tailor shop at the front of one of the houses on Hurst Street. The houses are now managed by the National Trust and are the last example of back-to-back housing in Birmingham.
The events and exhibition delve deeper into George’s life and work and the influence of Caribbean tailoring on the Birmingham fashion scene.
Ashton Cartmell, Operations Manager, said of the events across the month:
“George was one of thousands of West Indians who travelled to Britain after 1948, a group now known as the Windrush generation. He faced prejudice and violence, initially struggling to find work, but he became an accomplished tailor creating clothing for stars like Pat Roach, and receiving a prestigious award from the Queen’s Guards for his work.
The events we’re running over Black History Month hope to highlight the achievements and hardships faced by George, as well as the impact of Caribbean tailoring and its legacy.”
George Saunders and The Art of Caribbean Tailoring
9 October, 2pm-3:30pm, please book in advance
Before arriving in Britain, George Saunders honed his craft as a tailor for almost two decades in St Kitts. Despite his vast experience, when he came to the UK in 1958, he was often met with scepticism and the notion that without knowledge of British tailoring techniques, he was not fit for the British fashion industry.
Elli Michaela-Young, from the Caribbean Fashion and Design Network, will talk you through Georges’ tailoring journey, weaving his experiences within broader Caribbean design traditions.
Tour of the George Saunders Collection
19 October, 5:30pm – 6:30pm, 6pm-7pm, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, please book in advance
George generously gave the contents of his business and a series of oral history recordings to the National Trust when the Back to Backs became a museum, ensuring that his story could be enjoyed and understood by future generations. On this special tour, you’ll get more time to explore George’s collection, listening to stories about his extraordinary life and standing in his shop and workspace.
If you’d like to know more about either event, or to book tickets, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/birmingham-west-midlands/birmingham-back-to-backs/events.
The George Saunders Reimagined Exhibition
Tuesday and Wednesday, 1pm-5pm, Thursday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5pm
Free exhibition, no need to book
As well as the two special events in October, there’s also a free exhibition in partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU). Students created new garments using Georges’ original paper patterns – unused for more than 20 years – bringing the collection to life and sharing his story in an entirely different way. This exhibition will run until 22 December 2023.
Louise Martin, Course Director at BCU, said “This exciting collaborative project with the National Trust has enabled our students, to have an invaluable opportunity to work alongside the Back to Backs team, learning about the local history of communities – and most significantly the George Saunders collection.
Our students from BCU’s School of Fashion & Textiles, from foundation entry to graduate level – have been able to interact, engage and explore the fascinating Saunders collection; inspiring their work as they reimagine pieces, whilst remaining sensitive to the project’s aims of highlighting his story of migration, heritage, community, and enterprise.”
To find out more about the exhibition, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/birmingham-west-midlands/birmingham-back-to-backs/partnership-with-birmingham-city-university.