Fashion Open Studio

Image: Bethany Williams, ‘No Recourse to Public Funds' 2019 © Jade Berry

On Saturday 25 April Somerset House and Fashion Open Studio – an initiative from Fashion Revolution – will present free talks and workshops from innovative designers, streamed live online. Designers Bethany Williams and Paolo Carzana, knitwear designer Katie Jones and anonymous collective CONGREGATIONdesign will take part in a series of online talks and workshops as part of Somerset House’s Earth Day celebrations. The sessions also form part of Fashion Revolution Week's #whomademyclothes campaign and Somerset House’s Creative Careers initiative which supports young people looking to enter the creative sector.

Image: (c) Katie Jones.

The talks will encourage those wanting to work in fashion to join part of a new generation of ethical, sustainable designers, and get practical tips, as well as opportunities to share and learn through making. The sessions will be led by fashion journalist Tamsin Blanchard and Fashion Open Studio co-founder Orsola de Castro. The day’s sessions include: Katie Jones leads a macrame tutorial for beginners. Bring your own string, wool, or garden twine or make your own by shredding an old t-shirt or pillowcase; Paolo Carzana will talk about his Central Saint Martins graduation collection and the importance of research and material sourcing; CONGREGATIONdesign lead a participatory workshop exploring how to share a garment narrative and showcase a collection at home and Bethany Williams explains how to disrupt the system and make new business models with a social purpose.

Seven years old, Fashion Revolution is a global movement which has encouraged people to ask fashion brands #WhoMadeMyClothes? and this year, #WhatsInMyClothes? to raise awareness of the issue of micro-plastic pollution from polyester and acrylic materials. Fashion Revolution Week is the organisation’s annual campaign in April, which falls on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, which killed 1138 people and injured many more on 24th April 2013.

To join the Fashion Open Studio x Somerset House talks and workshops visit www.somersethouse.org.uk

For more information on Fashion Revolution visit www.fashionrevolution.org