Monday 22 September, 10-5 p.m.: Symposium: Interwoven: Wool Across Borders with Khadi London

Museum Of The Home, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA

In celebration of Khadi London’s 10-year anniversary, we are thrilled to present a dynamic one-day symposium as part of Selvedge Textile Month in London - a landmark event spotlighting a decade of pioneering work in regenerative textiles.

Khadi London CIC is a not-for-profit knowledge hub dedicated to heritage fibres, textiles and systems. At a time when the global textile industry remains one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation and social inequality, Khadi London offers hopeful, actionable alternatives that bridge heritage and innovation, offering solutions for a more socially and environmentally responsible textile ecosystem.

Interwoven: Wool Across Borders will bring together artisans, researchers, designers, and wool experts to examine how wool can support ecological and cultural resilience, decentralised textile systems, and offer a regenerative alternative to synthetic-dominated value chains. From ancestral herding practices on the brink of extinction to future-facing circular economies, the symposium offers tactile engagement, cross-cultural dialogue, and visionary perspectives on how we can rebuild the value of wool across cultures, generations and sectors. 

Speakers include Sevra Davis FRSA (Director of Architecture, Design & Fashion, British Council), Rahul Noble-Singh (Co-lead, Desi Oon Hub), Deborah Barker FRSA (Co-founder, South East England Fibreshed), and Nisha Subramaniam (Kullvi Whims). More speakers to be revealed soon. 

Schedule:
10.00: Registration
10.15: Welcome, Day Overview & Khadi London Presentation
10.45: Networking & Comfort Break
11.00: Panel 1 – Understanding Wool: From Heritage to Global Value Chains
This discussion traces wool’s journey through land, people, and place—examining its cultural significance and everyday value in both the UK and India. Speakers share grounded insights from across the value chain, from farming and herding to processing and trade, revealing how wool intersects with heritage, labour, and livelihood. The session reflects on shared challenges such as the decline of intergenerational knowledge and limited access to markets, while asking: how might we reimagine wool’s place in more local, connected, and resilient futures?
11.45: Q&A
12.00: Heritage Craft Demonstrations, Workshops & Stalls
A hands-on, immersive segment to engage with wool through making, conversation, and curated displays from practitioners working with wool across contexts including Kullvi Whims, Ossian Knitwear & Khamir. 
13.00: Lunch
14.00: Panel 2 – The New Wool Economy: Innovation, Scale, Impact
This panel looks at how wool is being used across different industries—fashion, textiles and beyond—to address contemporary material and environmental challenges. From small-scale craft to large-scale processing, speakers will share how wool is being applied across sectors. The discussion will explore what it takes to rebuild the value of wool today, including innovation in processing, shifts in consumer perception, and the potential for wool to play a role in low-carbon, high-impact economies.
15.00: Q&A
15.15: Short Film Screenings
A selection of short films offering a visual journey through the wool landscapes of the UK and India.
15.45: Panel 3 – Two Lands, One Thread: Wool, Culture & Regeneration
This fireside conversation brings together perspectives from India and the UK to explore how wool connects place-based practices, cultural knowledge, and regenerative approaches. The discussion will reflect on the role of pastoralist communities, national policy, and industry infrastructure in shaping the future of wool. The session will also examine how cross-cultural dialogue can inform more local, regenerative, and collaborative systems for working with wool.
16.30: Q&A
16.45: Final Reflections & Thanks

Whether you're a sustainability professional, an activist, an educator, or simply passionate about natural fibres, this symposium promises a day of inspiration, dialogue, and deep connection across disciplines and geographies.

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