NORLAND // Bath

Norland, is a world-famous specialist early years higher education provider. Throughout its 133-year-history, Norland has upheld its core values which place children at the heart of all it does. Sustainability is woven throughout Norland’s award-winning degree and integrated diploma training in early childhood education and care.

Norland students were treated to an “Interactive Introduction to Sustainable Fashion” day on Friday 28th February. The engaging session, with Becky Barnes, a sustainable stylist, explored how fashion choices impact the environment, covering sustainable materials, ethical production, and mindful consumption. Participants took part in a Style Clinic and assessed their wardrobes, bringing in an item they were unsure how to wear. Through creative discussions and styling advice, they discovered new ways to reimagine and transform their clothing. The session was followed by a Charity Shop Tour, offering hands-on experience in finding quality second-hand pieces while shopping more sustainably.

THE FASHION SCHOOL // London

The Fashion School was founded in 2012 by Caroline Gration, with the aim to promote a healthy attitude towards fashion and individuality to children, teenagers and adults. Located in Chelsea, London, they offer after school and weekend classes for children and teens of all levels, exciting half term and holiday workshops, fashion trips, luxe fashion workshops for grownups, and creative birthday parties for children.

The Fashion School hosted a free alteration and repair event on Saturday 1st March which featured guidance on basic repair techniques, empowering students with the ability to repair and alter their garments.

LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY // Leeds

Leeds Beckett University is recognised globally as an outstanding university, ranked in the top 20 universities in the UK. Generating original, rigorous and significant contributions to research and the arts, Leeds Beckett features state-of-the-art facilities for students which help students develop new ideas by giving students the tools they need to fulfil their potential.

Leeds Beckett University Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing courses provide young generations with the necessary knowledge on sustainable and inclusive practices, through design and construction, and marketing strategies for fashion businesses.

Multiple events were available for students to engage in across the week, including a clothes swap, a garment upcycling workshop, a workshop on how to utilise social media to communicate sustainability and more!

UNIVERSITY OF WEST ENGLAND // Bristol

University of West England is ranked the fourth best university in the South West of England according to the 2025 Guardian University League table and holds a Gold rating for student experience in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). UWE is a leader in sustainability, having previously won Sustainability Institution of the Year at the 2023 Green Gown Awards. A range of activities took place across the week including:

- UWE Bristol’s MAKERS (Making and Knowledge Exchange for Repair and Sustainability) project collaborated with Fairfield High School and the Old Library Community Hub in Eastville to host a six-week series of interactive sewing workshops.

-A screening of the ‘Fashion Reimagined’ with UWE Bristol’s Reel Nature Environmental Film Club on 24th February.

-The Sustainability Swap Shop offered extended hours across Tues 25th Feb - Thurs 27th Feb for students as well as a “Stitch It Don’t Ditch It’ rail of pre-loved clothes available for free that needed of a little TLC along with free sewing kits.

-A Mend In Drop In Session with UWE Bristol's Fashion Technical Team on 24th February.

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY // Northumbria

Northumbria University is a research-intensive University that unlocks potential for all, changing lives regionally, nationally and internationally. Named UK University of the Year 2022 by Times Higher Education and Modern University of the Year 2025 by The Times and The Sunday Times, it is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, with an additional campus in London. Northumbria is ranked in the UK’s top 25 for research power and graduate employment and is a top UK institution for graduate start-ups. Northumbria University Fashion Department offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, teaching everything from Fashion Communication and Fashion Design to Sustainable and Ethical Fashion.

On Tuesday 25th February the university hosted a workshop in collaboration with Stylability for the workshop “ReSweatshirt: Everyday Style That Cares”, which asked students to question garment terminology and its link to responsible consumerism.

In addition, on Weds 26th February, the Repair Hub was a walk-in repair centre located in the design school, where staff and students learnt repair skills such as Sashiko and Darning.

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY LONDON // London

Located in the heart of the City of London, Coventry University London is committed to excellence in business education. As part of one of the largest providers of business-related degree courses in Europe, they offer industry-focused learning designed to equip students with real-world skills. Since launching in 2010, they have maintained a strong reputation for student satisfaction, teaching quality, research excellence, and graduate employability.

Speaheaded by current student Theint Nay Chi Win, Coventry University London hosted a student-led sustainable fashion show which celebrated the art of secondhand fashion and upcycling on 28th February. Through the theme of the “Time Traveller’s Wardrobe Malfunction” the runway show made a powerful statement on sustainability. Theint explained: “The ‘wardrobe malfunction’ isn’t about mishaps; it’s a playful metaphor for breaking the fast fashion cycle in a world dominated by fast fashion.” Proceeds raised during the show were donated to Shelter charity.

Creative Director/Producer: Theint Nay Chi Win Runway Director/Assistant Producer: Anouk Winkelaar  // Stylists: Gabi Witynska, Nimishaa Razdann, Clara, Nathanael Santoso // Makeup Artists: Tessu Bansal, Ingrid Au Yeung // Hair: Harshdeep Kaur, Nana // Backstage Dressers: Krittika Bansal, Yuvashree Srinivasan // Hosts: Ritika Sharma, Maithili Vaishnav // Music Director: Naz Agilonu // Models: Amadou, Anouk, Anne, Bini, Cloud, Hannah, Hamza, Mathew, Naomie, Shravani, Sude, Trisha, Tolu.

FROME COLLEGE //

Frome

Frome College is a high-performing college in the South West which achieves some of the best results in national, regional and local areas. Offering a wide range of A Levels, BTECs, and Cambridge Technical qualifications, Frome College supports students with the skills, experiences and qualifications needed to succeed in the wider world.

The ‘Earth House’ is a college-wide sustainability project which engages students on the topic and seeks to raise awareness on the carbon impact of the textiles industry.

Frome College hosted a seminar and workshop for students with support from Edventure Frome and Everyone Needs Pockets on Friday 14th March as part of the Earth House project.

HEREFORD COLLEGE OF ARTS // Hereford

Hereford College of the Arts aids students to make their mark on the world and provides courses designed to feed imagination. Offering a range of post-16 courses to postgraduate degrees across a broad range of creative disciplines including fine art, graphic design, illustration, photography and textile design, Hereford College of the Arts supports students to ignite their creativity.

As part of Future Citizen, HCA hosted a series of textile taster sessions for sixth form students on 27th February focused around the theme of “Renew, Reuse, Rethink”.

Workshops included upcyling a garment with Kantha embroidery, weaving a tapestry with waste fabric and a hand spinning workshop with natural fibres.

TEXTILE JUNKIES //

Newtown

Textile Junkies is a spin-off community-based business, created by Cheryl Griffiths of The Dress Makers Daughter as a result of her concern about the impact fast fashion is having on the environment. Textile Junkies is a nonprofit organisation promoting a circular textiles economy whose aim is to teach new skills and rediscover old ones, make ‘new things’ out of ‘old things’ and break away from the throw away society. As part of SFW 2024, Textile Junkies hosted a Hub in Newtown.

On Saturday 8th March, Textile Junkies will be offering a free clothing upcyling event at Newtown Spring ShareFest, where children will transform old garments into powerful wearable art using textile art and block printing techniques. They will craft poignant messages about fast fashion’s impact, by turning discarded clothing into statement pieces. After designing their upcycled creations, the children will present their messages to local government representatives, advocating for more sustainable fashion choices in our community & empowering young voices for change! This will be part of Newtown’s Sharefest which also includes: Clothes, toys and book swap Repair Cafe Seedshare Eco Crafts & Activities.

ABINGDON & WITNEY COLLEGE // Abingdon

Abingdon and Witney College boasts award-winning teaching, cutting-edge facilities and fantastic support to students across a range of subjects for professional courses and undergraduate degrees. Located in the Abingdon Campus, the Advanced Skills Centre is a brand new £4 million pound learning facility dedicated to supporting students to achieve their best and showcase their amazing projects to the world.

As part of Future Citizen, students will be flexing their sewing skills and mending preloved items in preparation for a Jumble Sale on 12th March that will raise money for Sobell House Hospice.

CLAIRE DUNN DESIGN // Buckfastleigh

Claire Dunn is a maker who creates unique and timeless garments and accessories using only a specially curated collection of vintage and repurposed fabrics. Each piece is individually draped and crafted allowing the fabric to tell it’s own story for years to come. All pieces are solely made by Claire Dunn in her studio in Buckfastleigh, a small town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon. Claire is also a member of our Affiliates Directory.

Claire will be delivered two workshops from her studio in Devon on Sunday 1st March: An Introduction to Sewing and Dressmaking; and a Mending Workshop. Participants received an introduction to using a sewing machine and sewing a simple project using sustainably sourced fabrics. The second event will focus on using varying techniques for Mending including Boro visible mending.

To learn more about Claire’s future workshops, visit her website using the link below.

THREADS & ROOTS // Malmesbury

Thread & Roots runs sewing workshops re-using existing clothes and fabrics found at home, charity shops, Vinted and more. The workshops are aimed to empower people to re-use, to be adaptable, to sew their own clothes, to enjoy the process, to discover or re-discover their roots and follow their own thread. Run by Celine, a dressmaker of almost 20 years, the workshops are held in her beautiful studio in Malmesbury.

On Tuesday 18th February, Celine will be running “The Hoodie Workshop” which is designed to show young people how to recreate their favourite hoodie with a pre-loved blanket, throw or large scarf. After drafting their own sewing patterns on paper, they will be using sewing machines to create their very own hoodie jumper, empowering them to start making their own clothes and enjoy the process. The workshop will aim to reminding students of the positive impacts that upcycling can make on the planet, whilst also applying this technique to other garments such as skirts, dresses, trousers and more.

NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE // Derry

North West Regional College (NWRC) is a leading provider of Further and Higher Education and skills training in Northern Ireland and has five main campuses located in Derry-Londonderry, Limavady and Strabane. Students attend from various parts of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, undertaking full-time or part-time courses in a range of professional and technical areas. The College has four main curriculum faculties with course options for school-leavers, mature students, professionals, community and voluntary sector organisations, and NEET and long-term employed.

NWRC ran a competition which celebrated Derry’s rich cultural history as the shirt making capital of the world. The “Re:Imagined Shirts” competition invited students to honour this legacy by breathing new life into old, unwanted shirts. Participants aged 11-23 years entered in teams via their School/College or local youth club/community organisation.

AITH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL // Shetland

Aith Junior High School is a small junior high school set in a rural community in Shetland, surrounded by sea, islands and crofting landscape. As part of their activity for Future Citizen, primary and secondary pupils will be introduced to the fashion industry and its impact on global warming.

Students were invited to reconsider the future of fashion and dream of alternatives alongside a range of basic sewing techniques and practical mending skills.

Looking ahead to September, the school is planning on hosting a Sustainable Fashion Show in September as part of SFW 2025, in partnership with Shetland Wool Week - an international event celebrated fair isle fashion and localised wool production in the Shetland Isles.

OBAN COLLECTIVE // Oban

Re_Store in Oban is more than a charity shop. A collective of five charities, the Connecting Communities Collective bring the community together through sewing, mending and upcycling workshops. They also run a Rescued Food Project.

Partnering with Oban High School, the Collective ran a t-shirt upcycling workshop with students covering a range of skills including cutting techniques, embroidery, dying and drawing to give t-shirts new life. The students work will then be shown at the upcoming sustainable fashion show on March 13th!

THERE IS NO PLANET B // Stafford

There is No Planet B Stafford (TINPB), is a local Stafford-based group promoting care for the planet by providing school workshop materials and running Stafford Green Arts Festival held in February half term each year. 'There is No Planet B' Stafford Green Arts Festival normally runs in February half term, and invites the public and schools to submit artwork, photos, and poems with a positive environmental message about helping to look after our planet.

New for 2025, TINPB have launched the “Proud to Prom” initiative alongside local charity partner Childhood Cancer Patients Alliance (CCPA) which will seek to unite donated prom items with students in a sustainable fashion project.

SFAA FOUNDATION // London

Sustainable Fashion Apparel Association (SFAA) is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainability in Hong Kong fashion by encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials and production processes.  The organization also advocates for the garment industry's ethical and fair labour practices. SFAA offers training and resources to young designers on how to incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses, such as using recycled materials, reducing waste, and improving the overall environmental impact of their operations.  By promoting sustainability, SFAA seeks to create a more responsible and conscious fashion industry in Hong Kong.

As part of SFW Future Citizen, SFAA hosted a workshop on Friday 28th February that focused on upcycling denim into shoe charms at their studio in Greenwich, London.

TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY // Belfast

Tools for Solidarity is a not-for-profit organisation in Belfast. Their work is fully run by international, local and supported volunteers, with the main focus of our charity on supporting artisans in the poorest parts of the world and mostly in the countries of Africa. This act of solidarity enables them to become more self-reliant and have some hope for the future.

In partnership with Oxfam, Tools for Solidarity created a window display in Holywood featuring garments made as part of a Sustainable Style Show from last September which was part of SFW 2024. Sue Bamford, an award-winning environmental artist, led a zero waste workshop on Tuesday 24th February at a local school in the Holywood area.

UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON // Brighton

From small beginnings in the 1850s, the University of Brighton has grown into complex and diverse institution based in the south coast of England. Their ethos is defined by four core values: inclusivity, sustainability, creativity, partnership. The quality of teaching and student outcomes is award winning, with the University gaining a Silver award in the national Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. As a city, Brighton is renown for it’s green credentials and celebration of all things sustainable.

As part of SFW Future Citizen, Brighton University hosted a debate with their Fashion Communication & Business Studies students on fashion and sustainability.