Social Fabrics: Architectures for A New Fashion Economy

A panel discussion addressing the role of architecture and design in generating alternative models for the (fast) fashion industry. The event brings together experts from social enterprise, technology research and architecture to investigate how architecture might help shape new circular economic and environmental models, particularly within the often perilous conditions of the international garment industry and its supply chains.

The discussion will highlight the need to re-evaluate how architectural projects function, from the integration of emerging technologies to the building of non-traditional working partnerships in the hope of inspiring measured and just practices.

The supporting exhibition catalogues the joint work and research generated by Heat Island and Project Workforce, whose current collaboration in Bangladesh proposes a novel co-working model for garment production, improving conditions for small producers and workers in the informal sector.

The event will feature:

Heat Island, a new London based design studio focused on architecture and urban ecology.
(www.heat-island.com)

Project Work Force, a social enterprise addressing labour, social and environmental issues in the garment industry.
(www.projectworkforce.co.uk)

Maria Dada (researcher, creative technologist and Research Fellow in Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths University and at the Digital Anthropology Lab at UAL.)
(www.mariadada.com)

Assemble - Maria Lisogorskaya is a founding member of the multi-disciplinary collective founded in 2010. Assemble have since delivered a diverse award-winning body of work including a variety of unique co-fabrication spaces.
(www.assemblestudio.co.uk)