PROJECT OUTPUTS | EVENTS

We have held four key events at the start and end of our project along with a micro sustainable fashion show. Details are below:

Sustainable Clothing Futures, 20th January 2018

This was the opening event of the project at Penryn, in the Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter. We had an action-packed day including a video streamed talk from Orsola de Castro, founding director of Fashion Revolution [add film: C:Userscs464DropboxS4S Designing a Sensibility for Sustainable ClothingLaunch eventsSustainable Clothing Futures SymposiumOrsola Skype .mp4], inspiring key note talks from Kate Goldsworthy and Emma Hague, and hands-on workshops exploring different types of sheep wool, natural dyes, upcycling, creating ‘wool’ out of broken leggings, embellishment, what-am-I-wearing-today and who made my clothes.

Stitched Up! Opening Symposium, 20th January 2018

The simultaneous launch event at the Fashion Lab, School of Arts, University of Wolverhampton was a huge success. The day involved a mix of hands-on activities: sewing, tufting, lacemaking, sustainable pattern-cutting, clothing repair and modification; and inspiring presentations from, Lizzie Harrison Creative Director Antiform, a clothing company that puts sustainable practice first, and re-knitting expert Amy Twigger-Holroyd of Keep and Share. A live video conference link was established with the Penryn event.

Add YouTube video “S4S Stitched Up! Wolverhampton Launch”

The opening events in both locations were sold out. They additionally served to co-create research questions and themes. In Penryn, participants began to map out ways to act as ‘agents for change’ making notes on how we might, together, change the way people think, feel and act about their clothing choices. In addition, participants filled out a screening questionnaire that we used in order to select a range of participants for the workshops: mixing participants of a range of ages and levels of skill where possible.

S4S Designing a Sensibility for Sustainable Clothing: Exhibition, Workshops, Talks, 30th March 2019

The closing event for the West Midlands side of the project was sold out with around 80 attendees. It was another action-packed day, with talks on the project outcomes from Fiona Hackney, emotive contributions from participants on a panel, interactive workshops, the launch of our exhibition and a keynote talk on ‘Living Zero Waste in a Consumerist World’ by Charlotte Watkivs. The day included participant-led interactive workshop on lace-making, leather-work, sustainable Cosplay (dressing as comic characters), prototyping ideas for an app to allow people to self-style in vintage and second hand clothes shops, and a hands-on business enterprise workshop from Anti-Form.

Sustainable Clothing Journeys, 17th-18th May 2019

Again we had a full-house of participants at the closing event in Penryn. This event was split into two parts. On the Friday evening we had a clothes swap, a preview of the exhibition and a screening of our documentary, with complimentary bubbles and nibbles. The mixed, varied and exciting event on Saturday included a key note talk from Becky Earley from the Centre for Circular Design: it was inspiring to see how a shirt could be purposively designed for modification and longevity at its conception. We also had an alternative mini-fashion show, a report on project findings from Professor Clare Saunders, and a mini-market with presentations featuring local sustainable clothing businesses. The event was supported by Future Focus, funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund and Unlocking Potential.

Mini-Sustainable Fashion Show, 18th May 2019

Our mini-fashion show, organised, curated and narrated by Irene Griffin, was a huge success. It featured # collections including:


Kaya’s Wonderwear – a collection of evening wear, prom and wedding dresses, lovingly upcycled and made with bespoke care.


Year 2 BA Fashion Design Students – beautifully crafted jackets made with quality end-of-role. couture fabrics.


The Black Cat Boutique – enduring, stylish, well-made vintage wear.


The Finisterre Collection – sustainable clothing company Finisterre combines comfort and style to great effect.


The Womble Collection – making good use of the things that she finds, that many fashion designers would leave behind. Stylish dresses made by Irene Griffin.