SFW // FUTURE CITIZEN

24 FEB - 2 MAR 2025

Inspiring young people to take fashion action - giving them the tools to shift clothing habits, build resilience and design a fair fashion future

WORKSHOPS

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CLOTHES SWAPS

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TALKS

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CATWALKS

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REPAIRS

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MARKETS

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STYLING

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FILM SCREENINGS

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NATURAL DYEING

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ACTIVISM

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SKILLS LEARNING

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WORKSHOPS 〰️ CLOTHES SWAPS 〰️ TALKS 〰️ CATWALKS 〰️ REPAIRS 〰️ MARKETS 〰️ STYLING 〰️ FILM SCREENINGS 〰️ NATURAL DYEING 〰️ ACTIVISM 〰️ SKILLS LEARNING 〰️

 

Future Citizen is a week of action aiming to harness the power of education by uniting with places of learning for 11-23 year olds to share knowledge, inspiration and ways to take fashion action for the next generation of citizens and consumers.

We’re connecting schools, colleges, universities and other education settings across the country, asking that they host one or a number of activities between 24th February - 2nd March to engage with their students, other local places of learning or their wider community.

Activities can be informative, creative, skills focused... or thought-provoking, emotive, or inspiring. They can have specific outcomes, or can simply open up a conversation. Activities can be hosted by the organisation or by the students themselves.

The UK is one of the biggest consumers and wasters of fashion in the world. We believe that collective action at a citizen level is the quickest way to have impact - reducing the demand for fast fashion and increasing positive consumption habits. Joining together to change how we  buy, wear, care and dispose of our clothes is a powerful vote for the future we want to see. Be part of the solution: fashion action IS climate action.

Learn more about who’s involved and their activities below!

WHO’S TAKING PART

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 will be treated to an “Interactive Introduction to Sustainable Fashion” day on Friday 28th February. This engaging session, with Becky Barnes, a sustainable stylist, explores how fashion choices impact the environment, covering sustainable materials, ethical production, and mindful consumption. Participants will take part in a Style Clinic, where they’ll assess their wardrobes and bring an item they’re unsure how to wear. Through creative discussions and styling advice, they'll discover new ways to reimagine and transform their clothing. The session is followed by a Charity Shop Tour, offering hands-on experience in finding quality second-hand pieces while shopping more sustainably. Along the way, Becky will share expert tips on identifying well-made garments, understanding fabrics, and styling preloved items to create a timeless and personal wardrobe.

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 will be hosting a free alteration and repair event on Saturday 1st March which will feature 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 will be 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. There are a range of activities taking place across the week for UWE students including:

- UWE Bristol’s MAKERS (Making and Knowledge Exchange for Repair and Sustainability) project is collaborating 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, from 5–7 pm.

-The Sustainability Swap Shop is offering 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 are in need 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 will be hosting a workshop in collaboration with Stylability for the workshop “ReSweatshirt: Everyday Style That Cares”, asking students to question garment terminology and its link to responsible consumerism.

In addition, on Weds 26th February, the Repair Hub will be a walk-in repair center located in the design school, where staff and students can come by to learn 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 will be hosting a student-led sustainable fashion show celebrating the art of secondhand fashion and upcycling on 28th February. Through the theme of the “Time Traveller’s Wardrobe Malfunction” the runway show will seek to make a powerful statement on sustainability. 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.

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 will be hosting a seminar and workshop for students with support from Edventure Frome and Everyone Needs Pockets on Friday 14th March.

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 will be hosting a series of textile taster sessions for sixth form students on 27th February focused around the theme of “Renew, Reuse, Rethink”.

Workshops include 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 delivering two workshops from her studio in Devon on Sunday 1st March: An Introduction to Sewing and Dressmaking; and a Mending Workshop. Participants will have an introduction to using a sewing machine and sew 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 and take part, click 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 are running a competition which celebrates Derry’s rich cultural history as the shirt making capital of the world. The “Re:Imagined Shirts” competition invites students to honour this legacy by breathing new life into old, unwanted shirts. Participants aged 11-23 years can enter 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 will be invited to reconsider the future of fashion and dream of alternatives alongside a range of basic sewing techniques and practical mending skills. Activities coincide with Shetland Wool Week - an international event celebrated fair isle fashion and localised wool production in the Shetland Isles.

Looking ahead to September, the school is planning on hosting a Sustainable Fashion Show in September as part of SFW 2025.

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 are running 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 13th March 2025.

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 are launching 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.