As part of ⁠Made in the Middle⁠ we have been collecting stories of making in the Midlands that are influenced by migration.

We met with ‘everyday makers’ who craft for themselves, making at home, in a local studio or with a community. Through jewellery, pottery, crochet, textiles, blacksmithing and batik, their work celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity of the Midlands. It highlights how craft skills that migrate with the makers influence creativity.

We met makers of North American, South American, African, Caribbean, South Asian and East Asian heritage. They tell of a love for making and craft. Whether self-taught, passed down through family or shared within their community. It has been a privilege to work with them to weave together a rich tapestry of stories across the Midlands.

For over 20 years, Zahra has been reinvigorating the form of traditional Kurdish women’s caps, fashioning these ornate and vibrant objects to sell. Since seeking asylum in Birmingham, with the support of Brushstrokes Community Project, Zahra has not had access to materials or a sewing machine, so has been relying on clothing and jewellery donations and is continuing to make the caps by hand out of unwanted and second-hand materials.

To read a transcript of this interview, head to our ⁠website⁠.

Podcast created by Hayley Salter.