Sustainability in Practice: Designers, Makers, and Textile Futures

This panel, hosted by Lucy Kebbell (Founder of The WIP), brings together designers and makers to discuss how sustainability can be implemented in practical ways within the fashion industry. Panellists Cordelia Blair-Stickland (Head of Design and Training at ReFAB Studio), Kenny Chiu (Founder of Made In Eden), and Geoff Wong (Founder of 222theBACKYARD) will share perspectives on upskilling community tailors and facilitating textiles being recognised and used as valuable resources for designers.

The designers will also discuss how they apply sustainable fashion practices within their own brands, including how sustainability influences their design decisions, material choices, and production methods.

Together, the panel explores how collaboration between community makers and designers can support more responsible fashion production while helping shift the perception of existing textiles, from waste to a valuable resource for future design.

Host: Lucy Kebbell (Founder of The WIP)

Following a 10 year career in luxury fashion media, and a stint freelancing as a digital marketing & social media Manager, Lucy pivoted to work directly with small business in the impact space and founded The WIP. She believes that small, imperfect actions, done at scale are the key to achieving Net Zero and reaching social justice economic parity goals.

Lucy is a speaker, workshop facilitator, Business Mentor and consultant, working with business organisations, local authorities and Graduate services. Lucy is a certified business mentor with the Association of Business Mentors, and she recently became certified by the Carbon Literacy Project. The WIP offers free resources, an Expert Directory and a Funding Opportunities Database along with additional alternative funding resources via a Substack - Friday Funding Chats.

Lucy is also a writer and lives in South East London with her partner, two children and one ungrateful cat.

Panellists:

1. Kenny Chiu (Founder and Designer of Made In Eden)

KENNY CHIU, the founder of Made In Eden leatherware and winner of ‘40 Under 40’ in Fashion & Accessories category (Perspective). He also works as columnist for Esquire Magazine and internal training instructor for Loewe (LVMH) and Montblanc (Richemont). Throughout over 15 years in fashion industry, KENNY has worked closely with European tanneries focusing on eco-friendly materials, like raw hides from food industry as by-product and canvas made with recycled plastic bottles. The leather he chose is mainly vegetable tanned and heavy metal-free dyed, offering a sustainable choice to customers. His collections gained him ‘Creative Artist Award’(iPreciation), ‘Best Design Award’(HMFRDA) and ‘Best Lifestyle Collection Award’(APLF).

1. Geoff Wong (Founder of 222theBACKYARD)

Geoff Wong has worked in the creative industries for over a decade. Geoff founded 222 THE BACKYARD in 2014, working primarily with vintage indigo textiles to create pieces that are both aesthetically refined and sustainably minded. 222 the backyard was invited by brands such as Nike, Uniqlo, Cerruti and Tory Burch to repurpose materials into enduring sculptural bonsai pieces — giving renewed purpose and lasting value. Across exhibitions, products, workshops and brand collaborations, Geoff continues to develop a broader and more interactive approach to multimedia storytelling.

1. Cordelia Blair-Stickland (Head of Design and Training at ReFAB Studio)

Cordelia Blair-Stickland is a multidisciplinary designer and specialised textile trainer. Alongside being a freelance print designer, she is head of design and training at ReFAB Studio, teaching women from disadvantaged communities, design students and women prisoners in technical sewing skills, sustainable upcycling and how to monetise practical skills within textiles. Cordelia is a passionate educator and designer with a strong interest in sustainability particularly focused around how to create positive change within the design industry.

Anna Hashimoto, 2021 BA (Hons) Textile Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL