Upstart Festival Talks

Careers in Fashion and Textiles: The Art of Making with Celia Thornley, UKFT (13:30 - 14:00)
Learn about the creative and technical making skills behind the fashion and textile industry, and how you can be a part of it.

Celia Thornley – Head of Skills and Training at UKFT

Celia Thornley is an experienced fashion and textiles skills expert and has been successful in instigating and delivering skills initiatives across her 40 years within the industry. Celia enjoys bringing practical, feasible and sustainable skills projects to life, with commitment to the critical skills, fundamental to the maintenance of the existing sector and essential to future innovation and growth.     

Crafting the Future of African Fashion with Bukky Asehinde, Shola Solanke and Nicola Stylianou, curated by Adeche Atelier (14:30 - 15:30) 

An interactive talk exploring the different people and professions shaping African fashion today, while introducing young audiences to the richness of textile traditions and making practices from across the continent. The panel aims to broaden young people’s understanding of what a career in fashion can look like, while also exploring how cultural knowledge and material heritage continue to shape its future. 

Curated by Adwoa Botchey and Solomon (Adeche Atelier)

Guest Panellist: Bukky Asehinde, Founder of TALES House  

Guest Panellist: Shola Solanke, Founder of Elizabeth Divine    

Guest Panellist: Dr Nicola Stylianou, Pitts Rivers Museum 

 
This event is part of Upstart a creative careers festival. Join us to explore and expand your creative practice, meet inspiring artists and designers from the fashion and textiles industry, develop your network and learn new skills for your creative career journey.