Titanic Belfast opens the Northern Threads exhibition this weekend in the Andrews Gallery. The display overlooks the Harland & Wolff shipyard. It presents work by four Northern Irish fashion designers and Ulster textile heritage. This marks the venue's first fashion exhibition.

The designers include Sara O’Neill of Éadach, Gráinne Maher, Amy Anderson of Kindred, and Hope Macauley. Each has a dedicated pod with their clothing, mood boards, materials, and videos. An immersive section features the designers on film discussing their backgrounds and work.

Judith Owens, chief executive of TBL International, which operates Titanic Belfast, states the exhibition highlights innovation and creativity in Northern Ireland. She notes it covers textiles from the early 1900s to today. Owens refers to Belfast's past as a linen production center.

The exhibition includes details on materials such as linen, wool, leather, and silk. These continue to influence current designers. Owens says fashion provides an accessible entry to art and enables collaboration between large organizations and small businesses.

A project called ThreadLab by Ulster University lecturers Dean Liggett and Gráinne Taylor examines AI and technology against traditional tailoring. They find digital tools can simulate garment appearance and improve sustainability but cannot replicate human intuition.

Northern Threads runs until September 30. Entry is free.