Style beyond fashion

The Marian Clayden Foundation is dedicated to championing the legacy of Marian Clayden and her unique influence on the world of textile and design.

Who we are

Alex Clayden, MA, FRSA

Alex Clayden is the founder of the Marian Clayden Foundation and Marian’s eldest grandson. He is currently completing a PhD at the University of Leeds focussed on Marian’s contributions to craft and textiles. Alex is an experienced project manager and governance designer, and his fascination for his grandmother’s contribution to the world of textile and design has led him to put those skills to work establishing the Foundation.

What we do

Archive

The Foundation will collect, catalogue, study, and make available Marian Clayden’s art, as well as objects and material related to her art. It will make thousands of previously unpublished images, garments, or art pieces available to the public free of charge.

Aisling Twomey, LLM

Aisling Twomey is a founding trustee of the Marian Clayden Foundation and an experienced legal mind. Educated in Ireland, she obtained her LLM before moving to England and beginning a career in regulatory compliance. Aisling is currently a doctoral student at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies focused on money laundering through art.

Educate

The Foundation will work to promote innovation in textile design and art through a combination of educational approaches including scholarly research, the delivery of lectures and seminars, and the running of practical workshops.

Inspire

The Foundation will work to advance the field of textile art through educational, employment, and funding opportunities to create new work with Marian Clayden’s design principles at the heart of these projects.