Ethical Fashion in the Age of Austerity

Thursday 3 March 18.00-21.00

This looks set to be a fantastic evening.   The Papered Parlour host an ethical mini-festival at the V & A Museum of Childhood.

There will be lots of  workshops, live music, performance, panel discussion and craft stalls set amongst the Museum's childhood collections. London's leading eco-journalists, green stylists and ethical campaigners come together to discuss the key issues surrounding the growing social movement.

Fashion designer Betty Jackson and the Guardian's 'Ethical Living' columnist Lucy Siegle, who will be speaking about her forthcoming book 'To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing out the World?'.
Stylist Jocelyn Whipple will be running a unique workshop on green styling, plus eco-campaigners Labour Behind the Label and Love Fashion Hate Sweat Shops will be offering top tips on how to be sustainable with style.
The Papered Parlour will also be running Make Do and Mend workshops with Piney Gir.

I am really looking forward to going to this event. There are two workshops in particular that I will be making sure I fit into my visit.
Firstly,the lovely Sarah McCartney from 5 Degree Woolly will be running a knitting workshop. Being a amatuer knitter myself, I am very excited about this workshop. Heres a few details about 5 Degree Woolly and Sarah's workshop.

A 5 Degree Woolly gets its name from being 5 degrees Centrigrade warmer on the inside than the outside. It's easy to knit one, and as it grows really quickly you've got a statement work of eco-fashion in days. Essentially, it's knitting with up to 10 yarns to make a thick, warm, cosy extra layer to wear instead of putting the heating on. The important part is to get the mix of colours right and balance the thickness of the bunch of yarns so you end up with a garment you're proud to wear.
Sarah McCartney will be supplying patterns for two simple projects, the Original 5 Degree Woolly and the 5 Degree Woolly Socks. All you need are your biggest pair of needles plus a bag of your leftover yarns and the ones that have been sitting in your stash for months (or years) waiting for a project. This is that project.
If you don't ahve your own yarn stash (yet) raid your relatives' cupboards or come to the 4.30 materials swap before the event gets going; there'll be some yarn and needles to buy too, and funds will go towards spreading the word and encouraing more people to save on energy bills by wearing a 5 Degree Woolly.

The second workshop that I am really looking forward to taking part in is Heart Zeena and Craft Guerilla's Plushie Fox workshop.
You can create a cute little plushie from recycled and upcycled materials...Print, sew and stuff your very own little fox! A lovely accessory or toy hand made by you with some expert help. 
I have been a fan of Zeenas work for a while now. 

Heart Zeena has been a exhibitor at our last few fairs, we are always proud to see her work amoungst the amazing designers. 
So I am really excited about seeing how this little fellow is made. 

Ok, so lets hope thats tempted you to go along.... I might even see you there