Bringing together a global audience of influential media and retailers, London Fashion Week (LFW) showcases over 250 designers in a variety of venues across the capital. One such venue is The Roundhouse where this year, COS made its LFW debut with their Autumn/Winter collection for 2021. The show was produced by Bureau Betak and Picnic Productions.
Betak are well versed in producing spectacular creations for photographic shoots, experiential events, fashion shows, press days and some private commissions too. They count Tommy Hilfiger and Jimmy Choo amongst their clients. In keeping with COS style, the team at Bureau Batek created a chic yet minimalistic circular catwalk draped in white muslin, coloured with video projections. In addition to the muslin, the installation required 117m2 of carpet and 30 large sheets of black stained plywood.
An interesting repurposing challenge for the Event Cycle team.
We started contacting charities based in the area and Children Hope Forever got in touch in need of the muslin. Children Hope Forever is located in North London but support charitable work all across the globe. In the UK they offer programmes and workshops designed to help young people raise their skills in literacy, maths, and science, and set them on the path to future success. They also work with parents and other vulnerable groups, creating a safety net for people going through challenging times and helping to get them access to technology for the modern world. This work extends to Africa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where it funds education for children who could not otherwise access it and empowers women with employment and skills training as well as supporting their basic needs.
The muslin material donated by COS will be made into baby clothes and duvets which will be sent to Masisi and Kananga as part of a wider aid scheme to support children removed from the mining sector and victims of war and sexual violence.
The carpet and plywood were placed into two separate social enterprises. The first enterprise supports schools and community groups locating items such as carpets for their classrooms, workshops and after school clubs. Event Cycle worked with
Watford Recycling Arts Project (WRAP) to donate the carpet to a community group looking to update one of their activity rooms. The second enterprise teaches woodwork skills and provides active employment for those who cannot access employment via the traditional routes. The enterprise is part of a UK wide network Event Cycle partner with to make sure wood is repurposed rather than recycled supporting social impact as well as sustainability.
Photo credits nurisviewfashion