Fashion District Festival

Taking over the vibrant East London destination the six-day festival will offer a celebration of fashion, sustainability, innovation, and community. Featuring a diverse range of over 40 events, including pop-ups, swap shops, styling masterclasses, upcycling workshops, and interactive experiences, visitors will have the chance to explore, learn, create, and network with leading conscious brands and digital fashion businesses.

Bringing together fashion enthusiasts, professionals, and customers, this year’s festival covers four themes —WATCH, SHOP, MAKE, and GROW.

The Fashion District Festival, supported by the London College of Fashion, UAL, will open on Tuesday 11 July. As part of the WATCH programme, the launch show, curated by Lee Lapthorne from On|Off and AGRO Studio, will introduce some of London’s most promising emerging designers, combining physical and digital installations to create a truly unforgettable experience. The week will see further digital showcases from brands across the world, including The Fabricant, Syky and Institute of Digital Fashion.

The SHOP series will feature a collaborative retail pop-up located in a brand-new building at Number 1 Lamb St in Spitalfields – the first event to take place in the light-filled, contemporary building designed by Foster + Partners. Featuring emerging and planet-positive designers and start-ups, the brands on show specialise in preloved, swapped, rented, and upcycled fashion, such as Depop, The Alterist, Loanhood, The Cirkel, Verte London, Circular Threads and The Seam.

SHOP events:

• On Friday 14th July, rental app Loanhood will host a ‘Get Ready With Us’ event at the pop-up shop. This gathering invites attendees to explore the diverse offerings, try on pieces available for rent or purchase, and curate their own style.
• On Saturday 15 July, clothes swapping company Verte London will organise two swap shops for children and adults to refresh their wardrobes.
• On Saturday 15 July, charity partner, Give Your Best, will stage a special event, styling up pre-loved outfits gifted by Festival attendees throughout the week. At the Sorting Party volunteers will prepare the outfits for the platform passing on pre-loved ‘Besties’ to migrant families.
• On Saturday 15 July, specialist wardrobe care and repair service The Seam will host an open house, where visitors can witness the art of garment restoration and submit items for repair or alteration by makers in The Seam’s network.
• On Sunday 16 July, South Asian preloved and rental fashion platform, Circular Threads, will host a day-long event with the chance to try on outfits for the wedding season and join in upcycling workshops.

The MAKE space offers a diverse programme of interactive events and workshops for all ages, encouraging participants to explore sustainability and innovation in fashion via the three Rs: Repair, Reuse, and Recycle.

MAKE talks and workshops:

• Slow-fashion designer Lydia Bolton will offer visitors the chance to partake in a fun workshop, where attendees can learn hand embroidery techniques to breathe new life into old garments.
• On Friday 14 July, upcycled fashion marketplace The Alterist will host workshops by talented designers from their community, including pattern-making with Not Far Behind and upcycling reclaimed coffee sacks with Sackito.
• On Saturday 15 July, London College of Fashion, UAL’s sustainable manufacturing enterprise, Making for Change, will host engaging workshops for families and children, including a t-shirt printing and dressmaking for dolls, which will keep the little eco-warriors busy for an entire afternoon.
• On Saturday 15 July, slow fashion brand Revival London will share ways to re-work preloved denim into unique and stylish pieces.