Sustainable Fashion Businesses & Creatives' February Networking: Make Do And Mend

This live event is now available as an interview within our Extending The Life Of Clothes And Textiles Masterclass, 'How to design and make clothing that lasts forever', along with three separate presentations from our guest experts.

Join us for a networking evening with a difference on Monday 17th February 6.30pm-9.00pm.

Sometimes it can be anxiety-inducing to attend networking sessions: having to talk about yourself or approach strangers can be intimidating! But please don't be nervous about joining. Our regular attendees are welcoming and warm, and you are sure to leave feeling empowered, having made fantastic contacts, engaged in lively discussions and learned something new.

About the event:

We are excited to invite you to our monthly networking evenings: fashion businesses, creatives, entrepreneurs, industry professionals and anyone interested in hearing more from the sustainable fashion world and related industries, come along for presentations, panel discussion and chance to chat amongst yourselves.

Our networking sessions are always an evening of active participation, with like-minded professionals from a broad range of backgrounds, so that you'll come away feeling motivated and confident.

This month's theme is Extending the Life of Clothing and Textiles. We'll be joined by a plethora of industry guests each month, from those with brands to those innovating in materials.

Guest Speakers:

The Seam

Layla founded The Seam due to a belief in responsible living and creating a community that skill shares. Not only that, but so that we can continue to enjoy your clothing as a standard, rather than a privilege. The Seam is a platform that allows seamstresses find clients, and normal people find seamstresses. It isn't just about the everyday alterations, but the knowledge exchange of tailoring, embroidery, costume and leathergoods.

Selkie Patterns

Alexandra and Caroline founded Selkie Patterns to bring sustainability to sewing. They have combined their skills in costume design, luxury fashion and teaching to allow a focus on female empowerment within the sustainable making realm, in the process transferring knowledge and skills on what we as consumers and designers can do to extend the life of our products. Alex will be joining us to talk about Selkie's journey and upcoming workshops (including one with us).

Emma Mathews

Emma is the founder and designer of Socko, a responsible sock brand that manufactures in the UK, utilises "waste" yarn to create socks in limited exclusive quantities, and who provides yarn in order to allow you to keep your items in use for longer. Emma also runs mending workshops so that you can learn about the history of darning and mending, and physically gives you the new skills to extend the life of your clothing.

Stephanie Steele

Steph's background is within sustainable fashion design. Her MA at London College of Fashion focussed on the Design for X principles that looks to circularity and a holistic perspective on material origin to end of life. As an organic grower, her main drive is to help communicate why each element of a design needs to be considered. In this presentation she will give you a brief overview of the Design for X principles that you can put into practice.

When and where?

Monday 17th February 6.30pm-9.00pm

The Marylebone (Saloon Bar), 93 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4RE

The event is free to attend. Advanced registration is recommended to avoid disappointment. 

Head upstairs to the Saloon Bar at The Marylebone for an intimate setting, and one that you can continue to chat in as the night draws on. Refreshments are by a paid bar service.

Please arrive from 6.30pm onwards. If you're a little early, we request you wait in the bar downstairs before heading up, to allow the team time to finish setting up. Discussions will begin from 7.15pm, but if you're running late, please don't be afraid to arrive mid-discussions. The evening is very informal and we welcome all latecomers.

We're going global

Connecting with like-minded individuals is so important. We've heard on countless occasions how valuable the monthly networking events have been, but connecting with others shouldn't be restricted to in-person. That's why we're excited to launch the live stream and online chat, where those of you not based in London can join the conversation, access invaluable sustainable business advice and connect with other entrepreneurs globally from the comfort of home.

Social media links:

Instagram: The Sustainable Fashion Collective
Facebook: The Sustainable Fashion Collective
Twitter: The Sustainable Fashion Collective
YouTube: The Sustainable Fashion Collective