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 It will make thousands of previously unpublished images, garments, or art pieces available to the public free of charge.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.