A major new exhibition at Redcar Palace celebrates personal acts of creativity.

As the backlash against ‘fast fashion’ becomes ever more prevalent, this exhibition – entitled ‘Thread Counts’ – couldn’t be more timely. Through fashion design, photography, film, crochet, embroidery and archival material, visitors will be able to experience the joys of making things through individual expression. The aforementioned archival material will include stuff from Numi Solomons (pictured), known as Ritzy Knitz, who designed and made cutting edge knitwear from the 1970s-1990s. Now based near Whitby, her archive of drawings and fabrics from this period will be shown for the first time. Visitors can also explore the work, and teaching aids, of Margaret Dawson (1915-2006), who was born and raised in Middlesbrough and who taught design at a local art college. Also in the offing is photographer Casey Orr working in collaboration with painter and sculptor John James Perangie. Together they have created a new collection of garments and photographic portraits. There’s also a major new commission by Redcar Palace in partnership with Borderland Creative People and Places. This – The Teesside Community Rag Rug – examines the tradition of turning old clothes and scraps of fabric into intricate rugs.

Thread Counts, 5 August-7 October, Redcar Palace, redcarpalace.org.uk