Degree Show shines spotlight on School of Textiles in Galashiels
Last updated 15th May 2025
Compostable clothing, photography of ocean waste, and garments with musical microchips stitched into them, are among the final year projects to be showcased by students in the Scottish Borders.
Heriot-Watt University's School of Textiles and Design is hosting its 2025 Degree Show at the High Mill building, at its Netherdale campus, in Galashiels this weekend.
Other projects on display in the converted mill include a medical centre inspired by beehives and a children’s book about wool.
The show will launch with a private showing for industry, staff and friends and family on Friday (May 16th), before opening to the public between Saturday and Wednesday, May 17th to 21st.
Around 140 students from countries including Scotland, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, India, Malaysia and the United States are taking part in the event.
They include Rhianne Dagg, a 21-year-old from Kelso who is studying Communication Design.
She has created a photographic book that captures the reality of plastic pollution on our shores.
“I've always loved the ocean,” Rhianne said. “Some of my fondest memories are of visiting the beach with my grandparents, collecting shells and exploring the shoreline. That personal connection, paired with the growing urgency of plastic pollution, inspired me to focus my honours project on this issue.”
To create her book, Rhianne collected a wide range of ocean plastics along the east coast of the Scottish Borders, from Coldingham Bay to Eyemouth.
The bits of waste plastic she picked up included plastic bottles and bottle tops, bits of children’s toys, a bucket, rubber gloves and fishing detritus including bits of plastic rope, tools and fishing nets.
Her photographs neatly arrange the ocean waste against stark white backgrounds and include a collage of ocean waste in all the colours of the rainbow.
“Each image taken during my beach cleanups documents not only the variety of waste I found, but also the process of how plastic breaks down over time, from larger to smaller pieces, making them increasingly harmful and harder to remove,” Rhianne explained.
“Through this work, I hope to inspire viewers to reflect on the impact of their everyday choices and to see that even small changes in behaviour can make a huge difference.”
For the first time, this year’s Degree Show will connect Heriot-Watt’s campuses in both Scotland and Dubai through an interactive online portal, allowing visitors to experience the talent and innovation of students in both regions.
Dr Joatan Preis Dutra, Project Lead for the 2025 Degree Show and Assistant Professor in Digital Design and Innovation at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design, said: “The Degree Show is a milestone moment for our students – a celebration of their creativity, dedication and personal growth.
"This year, we’re proud to introduce the digital portal connecting our campuses in Scotland and Dubai, symbolising Heriot-Watt’s identity as one global university. It’s a reflection of the joint programmes we deliver across continents, and the shared values that unite our international community.”
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