John MacKenzie

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John MacKenzie was Bernat Klein’s Assistant Designer and then Head Designer for Ladies Wear at Bernat Klein Ltd. between 1963 - 1971 based at Netherdale Mill, Galashiels in the Scottish Borders (now the School of Textiles & Design, Heriot-Watt University). He joined Bernat Klein at the height of the design and production of Klein’s couture tweeds and was personally involved in the development and production of the ‘Velvet Tweeds’, as well as all seasonal ranges produced by Bernat Klein during that period. In this interview John MacKenzie shares his experience of working for Bernat Klein, and gives a personal account of his working life as a young man as a woven textile designer in the Scottish Borders.