Reduce, re-use, recycle at alternative fashion week

Young designers. Photo: Rhiannon Bury

Young designers. Photo: Rhiannon Bury

Spitalfield’s market plays host to an alternative fashion event this week, with scores of emerging designers due to showcase their talent.

The week, organised by east London company Alternative Arts, is designed to give fashion students and amateur designers a platform to show their work. There is a fashion show every day, with over seventy designers exhibiting over the week.

This year’s show has an emphasis on environmental awareness and ethical sourcing – many of the designers are using recycled textiles to produce innovative designs.

Alternative Arts is a publicly funded arts organisation and presents this event at no cost to the designers, ensuring maximum exposure for the latest raw talent. Collections are being taken for children’s charity Barnado’s and local cause Spitalfields Crypt Trust.

Students Amber Zakrzewski and Luqman Ali, both 18, explained their projects which were part of their BTEC at Waltham Forest College. “For this particular task we were put in groups, then the tutor gave us a bra and a load of carrier bags and we had to make a dress out of it,” said Amber. “People made some really amazing pieces.”

“This is a great place to try and get noticed in the industry – we’re exhibiting with the rest of our class later in the week with a collection made out of socks.”

“Next year we’ll be showing our final projects which we’re working on now,” Luqman added. “We were here last year, it’s always a good event.”

The event is also a chance for would-be models to strut their stuff in front of industry professionals. Alternative Arts organise a six-week training course for the models prior to the event, and much of the hair and make-up is done by students.

Designers have the chance to sell their creations to members of the public on one of the many stalls set up in the area.

Catwalk shows are at 1.15pm daily accompanied by live jazz, with market stalls open 11am-5pm. Entrance is free.

Alternative Arts is a publicly funded arts organisation and presents this event at no cost to the designers, ensuring maximum exposure for the latest raw talent. Furthermore, collections are being taken for children’s charity Barnado’s and local cause Spitalfields Crypt Trust.

2 Comments

  1. Louise Edwards April 20, 2010
  2. Daisy Bowie-Sell April 20, 2010

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