Fashion’s not so little secret: how the Stitch Academy and Hackney Walk are making fashion more inclusive

When we read about the fashion industry, it can often sound like a treacherous game of Snakes and Ladders – not only in regards to the lack of diversity in catwalk shows, but also due to the unattainability for people to even get as far as designing the clothes themselves. It’s one of the hardest industries to break into, with no actual guarantee that fashion graduates will ever see their designs in a show or store. Who you know, now – more than ever – is crucial, but surely there are ways that this can be improved?

As tuition fees rise and the cost of living in London increases, you can’t help but believe that money is what will make future designers successful rather than the talent itself. That’s why these type of spaces are crucial in ensuring that upcoming designers are getting the recognition that they deserve.

We’ve seen how companies such as See Fashion, Graduate Fashion Week, Not Just a Label and even LVMH aim at supporting upcoming fashion designers in the best way they can through crowdfunding, grants and even creating a space for designers to sell their products in an extremely creative platform. As tuition fees rise and the cost of living in London increases, you can’t help but believe that money is what will make future designers successful rather than the talent itself. That’s why these type of spaces are crucial in ensuring that upcoming designers are getting the recognition that they deserve. For those that want to explore various avenues within the fashion industry without a whopping fee, whilst still being taught by someone with immense knowledge, then Stitch Academy and Hackney Walk’s collaboration is a game changer.

Launched in 2013, Stitch Academy and its collaboration with Hackney Walk has allowed Londoners to build a relationship with fashion in an incredibly affordable and informative way with some of the biggest names in fashion appearing at the forefront. Hackney Walk is already known for its luxurious outlet stores from Anya Hindmarch to Burberry, and this year fashion’s hottest insiders will be sharing their knowledge with the public.

From the 25th March – 29th April 2017 guests can spend their weekends learning about fashion illustration with Fashion East designer Mimi Wade, designing sustainable tote bags with Christopher Raeburn, or getting social media tips to last a lifetime from successful blogger Susie Bubble – all for free! These are only a few of the names that will be appearing, showing just how diverse and passionate both the Stitch Academy and Hackney Walk are about making sure that they can reach out to those that might need that extra push. It’s positive, creative and the best part is it’s accessible for all. It might sound farfetched, but it’s these types of platforms that have the ability to change a person’s life.

Tickets for the workshops can be found here.