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Over the past four years our relationship with Oxfam has really grown. Since the launch of the M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange, we’ve seen over 10 million items donated – worth an estimated £8 million to Oxfam. Now, we are taking our quest for greater sustainability in fashion one step further by opening the UK’s first sustainable fashion lab in the heart of East London, at the Old Truman Brewery. We’ve called it the Shwop Lab, as part of our wider initiative called shwopping.
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As well as Oxfam, we’re working with London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion to bring together an exciting array of designers, stylists and thought-leaders who will be exploring and debating the future of a more sustainable fashion industry.
The project will give M&S customers a behind-the-scenes look into the world of 21st Century fashion and offer the opportunity to witness the stars of environmentally friendly fashion at work. Eco-conscious visitors will even be able to try their hand at designing and creating their own items through expert-led master classes.
- Work from the Sustainable Centre for Fashion and designers Michelle Lowe-Holder and Noel Stewart
We’re really looking forward to giving both established and up-and-coming designers the chance to collaborate on this exciting project. The only ticket you need to attend this great event is an unwanted item of clothing. Each item will be assessed for potential use and will either be reused and transformed in the lab or handed to Oxfam to resell or recycle. Welcome to the future of fashion!
The M&S Shwop Lab, in partnership with Oxfam and LCF’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion at the Old Truman Brewery, London, is open between 10am – 5pm every day (except Mondays) from 26 April – 9 May 2012.
View The Shwop Lab events programme below…
FRIDAY 27th APRIL
11.00 – 12.30Â
TRUE MATERIALISM
Dr Kate Fletcher explores the economic, ecological and emotional value in the garments we wear.
15.00 – 15.45
THE M&S ARCHIVE
The evolution of M&S style over the years from 1884 to the present day.
15:45 – 16:30
THE HEIRLOOM CHALLENGE
Dilys Williams sets the brief for a weekend-long M&S heirloom challenge.
SATURDAY 28th APRIL
10.00 – 17.00
SUSTAINABLE FASHION LAB DESIGNER CHALLENGE – MILLINERY
Interactive public workshop, led by Noel Stewart, where denim off cuts will be transformed into an array of fashion forward headgear.
SUNDAY 29th APRIL
10.00 – 17.00
SUSTAINABLE FASHION LAB DESIGNER CHALLENGE – MILLINERY
Interactive public workshop, led by Noel Stewart, where denim off cuts will be transformed into an array of fashion forward headgear.
MONDAY 30th APRIL (SPACE CLOSED)
TUESDAY 1st MAY
10.00 – 17.00
SUSTAINABLE FASHION LAB DESIGNER CHALLENGE – READY TO WEAR
Gary Harvey and his team will be working around the clock to create one of his spectacular couture pieces made entirely of unwanted denim.
WEDNESDAY 2nd MAY
10.00 – 17.00
SUSTAINABLE LAB DESIGNER CHALLENGE – READY TO WEAR
Gary Harvey and his team will be working around the clock to create one of his spectacular couture pieces made entirely of unwanted denim.
19.00 – 20.00
DON’T CARE HOW, I WANT IT NOW!
We can’t get enough of fashion – what feeds this need for speed. A panel discussion.
THURSDAY 3rd MAY
10.00 – 17.00
SUSTAINABLE FASHION LAB DESIGNER CHALLENGE – ACCESSORIES
Michelle Lowe Holder and team, along with London College of Fashion students, transform unwanted garments into modern statement pieces.
19.00 – 20.00
CHRISTOPHER RAEBURN
Discusses the challenges associated with embedding sustainability within design.
FRIDAY 4th MAY
10.00 – 17.00
SUSTAINABLE FASHION LAB DESIGNER CHALLENGE – ACCESSORIES
Michelle Lowe Holder and team, along with London College of Fashion students, transform unwanted garments into modern statement pieces.
SATURDAY 5th MAY
10.00-17.00
THROWN AWAY FASHION WITH DR NOKI
Dr Noki will run an interactive, fun and engaging workshop where obsolete items will be cut up and reworked into new designs.
SUNDAY 6th MAY
10.00 – 17.00
THROWN AWAY FASHION WITH DR NOKI
Dr Noki will run an interactive, fun and engaging workshop where obsolete items will be cut up and reworked into new designs.
MONDAY 7th MAY (SPACE CLOSED)
TUESDAY 8th MAY
10.00 – 17.00
UNPICK AND REMIX
Jennifer Baillie and her team will take the public’s unwanted items of clothing and transform them through customisation.
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Comments1
On: 21 April 2012 Permalink
That sounds really interesting!
I hope that there’ll be an article about the event on ‘Stories’, can’t wait to read about how it all went.
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