Sustainable Fashion Week Highlights ‘The Power of Repair’

Taking place from Friday 20th to Sunday 29th September the 2024 edition of Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) is promoting the theme “The Power of Repair.”

Sustainable Fashion Week events are currently running across 17 UK hubs from Bath to Belfast, alongside three international hubs in Chicago, Ontario and India. With an emphasis on the importance of repair, recycling and upcycling, the programme includes lots of practical workshops, exhibitions, talks and clothes swaps.

Born in Bristol, this year’s Sustainable Fashion Week has doubled in size and includes insightful workshops and panel discussions featuring industry experts. Belfast celebrates its first-ever SFW Hub in Northern Ireland, marking a significant milestone for the SFW programme. The Belfast Hub will highlight local initiatives and sustainable fashion practices, providing a platform for the city’s growing sustainable fashion community.

Bath Spa University, Fashion Roundtable and its National Centre for Fashion & Sustainability are the headline partners for this year’s event. Co-hosting this year’s Flagship Hub, to celebrate the launch of the new Centre, a week of activity will be taking place at the Locksbrook campus, featuring an exhibition of the renowned Red Dress by Kirstie McLeod, alongside a packed programme of workshops, talks, panel discussions and more celebrating sustainability and fashion.

Additionally, SFW is collaborating with the Two Daughters production company on a unique children’s activation inspired by its popular animation series, Moley. This initiative aims to educate and engage children in the practices of repair and sustainability from a young age.

Amelia Twine, Founder at Sustainable Fashion Week, said: “At SFW our aim is to unite communities nationally, through the power of taking action locally. This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Repair,’ is about more than just mending clothes. It’s about mending our relationship with clothing and the environment. We’re creating a platform where community, creativity and sustainability come together to inspire change.”

Tamara Cincik, Founder of Fashion Roundtable and Professor at the National Centre for Fashion & Sustainability (NCFS) at Bath Spa University, added: “Sustainable Fashion Week is fuelling a growing movement of empowered citizens who reject the fashion status quo and take action on a personal and community level. NCFS is pleased to host the SFW 2024 Flagship Hub, supporting collective action and the transition to a low-impact fashion industry in which both producers and consumers can thrive. This is all part of our vision for a creative wellbeing economy.”

SFW 2024 is supported by organisations spanning different aspects of the sustainable fashion industry – from the production of clothing right through to the education of future consumers – including Bath Spa University, Norland, The Fashion Museum Bath, the Organic Textile Company and the Global Organic Textile Standard. Each partnership offers SFW the opportunity to connect with and inspire different audiences and communities.

For more information and to keep up to date with the full programme announcement, visit www.sustainablefashionweek.uk and follow along on social media at @sustainablefashionweekuk on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and @SusFashWeek on X.

FashionCapital and Fashion-Enter Ltd avidly support repair, recycle, upcycle and repurposing initiatives and have embedded sustainable and circular practices within their manufacturing business model. If you are based in North London and would like support and advice on your sewing projects, or on how to use an industrial sewing machine we can help. Please tap here for our up and coming workshops and classes ranging from free drop-in sessions to Saturday Sewing Club dates from £30 per session.