2021 saw HCA take part in Fashion Revolution Week for the 4th year. A variety of activities happened across the college including a socially distanced Clothes Swap, an up-cycling twine workshop and visiting speaker Charlotte Cameron (founder of Berjoan), who shared her own insight into sustainable design within the fashion and textiles industry.
Alumnus John Sanders, and current final year Dagmara Chwalik, also joined students and staff for a panel discussion where they talked about how they are addressing sustainability within their practice including working with organic matter and deadstock fabrics from warehouses.
On Tuesday 20 April, a panel of staff, students and graduates met to discuss Sustainability in Textiles as part of Fashion Revolution week. The conversations which followed were thought-provoking and fascinating. The main points discussed were; to keep challenging fashion companies on how they are being sustainable and if they advertise a product as being sustainable, question how it is sustainable. Seek collaborations with people who have the same ethos as you and work together to produce responsible and traceable designs. Acknowledge that as designers it is our responsibility to know the environmental impact of the materials we use, to take a considered approach and problem solve where needed.
Panel members were Nick Thomas, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Textile Design at HCA, Dagmara Chwalik, textile design student, John Sanders, recent graduate from HCA and Jess Bugler, printmaker and technical demonstrator at HCA.
On Thursday 22 April, the clothes swap event brought students and staff together to discuss and share information around fast fashion and sustainable practices and of course swap and find a new home and use for once unwanted items of clothing. The event raised £40 in donations, which has been donated to Fashion Revolution week in aid of all their charitable work; they support charities such as anti-slavery international, Fairtrade federation, Greenpeace and many more.
Charlotte Crossley, L6 Textile Design student said:
“During fashion revolution week, we had a great talk from guest lecturer Charlotte Cameron, who shared her experiences within the fashion industry and discussed the sustainable challenges we are facing. Charlotte focused on the positive steps that have been made in fashion companies over the past few years and how we as designers can go on to make responsible choices. During lockdown 2020, Charlotte launched her new business, Bejoan. Bejoan’s ethos inspires consumers to reflect on the connection and stories they share with their clothing, as well as finding value in the pieces already in their wardrobes, embracing slower fashion.”
