Music fans will have the chance to own a piece of Belfast’s musical heritage, as the drapes from the iconic Ulster Hall have been repurposed into a range of limited-edition designer merchandise.
The black-out drapes from the historic Belfast venue have been transformed into tote bags, made by local sustainable designer, Titanic Denim, with exclusive artwork by local illustrator Thomas Bannon.
Titanic Denim takes textiles that would otherwise have gone to landfill and repurposes them into bags, accessories and furniture, which are designed and manufactured locally.
While attending a sustainability event at ICC Belfast, Marie Nancarrow of Titanic Denim learned that the drapes were due to be replaced as part of a refurbishment. She spotted the opportunity to produce something that would preserve their history and give them a new lease of life. Titanic Denim worked with the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall team to develop a tote bag with musical history woven into its fabric. Marie said,
This project is a powerful reflection of the passion and purpose that sits at the heart of Titanic Denim’s RESCUED initiative.
"It is about seeing value where others see waste, and reimagining discarded materials as something meaningful, with both story and impact. By transforming textiles that would otherwise be lost, RESCUED not only preserves pieces of our shared heritage but also champions a more responsible, circular approach to design. It is a bold and inspiring example of how creativity can drive real change, giving materials a second life while reducing environmental impact.”
Each of the limited-edition tote bags are unique, retaining the character of the original drapes material, which framed iconic performances at Ulster Hall for over a decade. The venue, widely regarded as Belfast’s “Home of Rock ’n’ Roll”, has hosted generations of internationally renowned artists and home-grown acts.
Belfast illustrator Thomas Bannon was commissioned to create bespoke artwork for the bags, featuring the Ulster Hall’s familiar Victorian façade. It was designed by architect William Joseph Barre, who also designed the Albert Clock in the city, and opened in 1862.
Ciara Davidson, Head of Governance and Stakeholder Engagement said, “We’re thrilled with the finished product and the idea that hundreds of metres of fabric have been diverted from landfill. This has turned out to be so much more than a sustainability project."
Marie and Titanic Denim team have created a beautiful, highly collectible piece of merchandise that celebrates the unique role of the Ulster Hall in entertaining people for over 150 years.
"They’re obviously very limited in number and we think music fans are going to be mad-keen to get their hands on one.”
The bags are now available from ulsterhall.co.uk, along with a new range of limited-edition Ulster Hall heritage posters and t-shirts celebrating the venue’s iconic performances through the years.
