Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) is set to launch its largest and most ambitious programme yet, running from Friday 20 – Sunday 29 September, with a Community Fringe extending the run until Saturday 12 October.
This year, SFW proudly presents 17 UK hubs - more than double the number from 2023 - including significant events in Bath, Birmingham, Belfast and Leek, alongside three international hubs in Chicago, Ontario and Porto.
SFW 2024 celebrates the theme "The Power of Repair," emphasising the importance of mending and reimagining fashion to foster sustainability. The programme kicks off on Friday 20th September with workshops and exhibitions aimed at showcasing the best of sustainable fashion and collective action.
Born in Bristol, this year sees several dedicated hubs across the UK and internationally, hosted in partnership with local organisations. In Leek, attendees can join Carry Somers, co-founder of Fashion Revolution, for insightful workshops and panels discussing the future of sustainable fashion. This dedicated Leek Hub promises to be a centre of innovation and education in sustainable practices.
Carry commented “Commerce, creativity, the arts and crafts movement, gothic revivalism and aestheticism all found their home in Leek, creating a centre of textile excellence and cultural collaboration. As a Sustainable Fashion Week Hub, our aim is to bring alive this heritage for new audiences through art trails, talks, workshops and exhibitions, inspiring creative action as we learn lessons from the past.”
Birmingham will host a Hub at the inaugural The Good Clothes Show, taking place at the NEC from Friday 20 - Sunday 22 September. The event will feature the largest collection of sustainable boutiques, brands and artisan makers, offering a unique shopping experience – as well as workshops where attendees can engage in repair and upcycling sessions, promoting the ethos of this year’s SFW theme.
Belfast will celebrate the 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.
Internationally, SFW will expand its reach with hubs in Chicago, Ontario and Porto. These hubs will allow audiences to engage with global perspectives on sustainable fashion, showcasing international efforts and fostering a worldwide movement towards sustainability in fashion
Otherwise, 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 @sustainablefashionweek_uk on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and @SusFashWeek on X.
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