Forest Hill Fashion Week - 24-27 September 2015

Forest Hill Fashion Week showcases local talent in a festival of fashion, design and craft. It is a family-friendly, inclusive, community festival with something to offer for people of all ages; and celebrates South East London’s wonderful creative buzz. Founded in 2013 by South East London local Louise Brooks, this traditionally bi-annual event builds on the momentum created by the SEE3 Portas Pilot investment to regenerate local high streets in the area.

Featuring established and up-and-coming designers, the fashion week is organised by a group of volunteers with local shops, cafés, bars, other venues and community interest groups all joining forces to fund and host an exciting line-up of fashion-themed events — illustrating Forest Hill’s community spirit, creativity, love of sharing and commitment to high street regeneration.
The 2015 theme is ‘Creativity, Community and Culture’ — three things that definitely make Forest Hill such a vibrant and unique part of London. This year’s FHFW will focus on the community cohesion that exists in Forest Hill. There are several themed events planned for the week to involve the whole community. The catwalk event will close with a very special show from ‘Pavement to Catwalk’, an inspiring organisation dedicated to involving people with mental health problems, addiction issues and disabilities in creative projects using fashion and design. The Pavement2catwalk section of the show will focus on homelessness, addiction disability, mental health and also the elderly.

FHFW 2015 is coordinated by Pauline Wright, who runs Forest Hill’s iconic Sugar Mountain sweet and ice cream shop; Donald Waugh, a noted actor, singer/dancer who founded the social enterprise Pavement2catwalk; and Emma Drysdale, who runs locally-based Gems Performing Arts, offering classes in dance, acting and signing for ages 3-16.

Pauline told us that, initially, only £1,500 in funding was available from SEE3 to put the event together. “I knew there wouldn’t be much funding when I decided to take the event on, but I could never have made it possible without my friends Donald and Emma, and my customers getting behind me to make FHFW possible this year. Many of my local customers are lending equipment and another customer is printing flyers — advertising the events — for free. Just by chatting to my customers, many offered to help — which shows amazing community spirit in Forest Hill.”






 FOREST HILL FASHION WEEK EVENTS

• Thu 24th, 3pm: Pavement2catwalk workshop
• Fri 25th, 4.30pm: Kids’ fashionable face painting workshop
• Fri 25th, 4.30pm: Kids’ fashion cupcake decorating workshop
• Fri 25th, 6.30pm: Youth performance workshop
• Fri 25th, 8pm: Drop Dead Gorgeous salsa night
• Sat 26th, 12pm: Kids’ balloon modeling workshop
• Sat 26th, 12pm: Crepe Records catwalk warm-up show
• Sat 26th, 2pm: Main catwalk show
• Sat 26th, 8pm: Catwalk after party
• Sun 27th, 2.30pm: Mad Hatters Tea Party. Look out for a flashmob!
• Sun 27th, 4.30pm: Kids’ catwalk show

 Up-to-date details of all events, including ‘Warm up’ events between 19th-20th September, can be found at fhfw.co.uk

Ezra Collective - Live in Forest Hill station car park

On 21st September 2014 the Forest Hill Society organised a small musical festival in the Forest Hill station car park, with local bands playing. Here is the Ezra Collective:

Forest Hill Free Fashion Week Concert

Forest Hill Fashion Fest, Sunday 21st September, Forest Hill Station main car park.

Forest Hill Fashion Week

As London Fashion Week tails off, the local community of Forest Hill pick up the fashion baton and provide South London and it’s visitors with their local take on fashion, craft and style.

Founded in 2013 by South East London local Louise Brooks, this bi-annual event was born from the SEE3 Portas Pilot investment to regenerate local high streets in the area. Originally conceived to support the Pop-Up shops scheme, Forest Hill Fashion Week (FHFW) was such a local success that the team have kept it going.

Previous FHFW events have seen live catwalks and a local craft market take over the Horniman Museum & Gardens. Keen to keep each year fresh, new and interesting, this year will see a host of events that will allow innovative and original designers the opportunity to present their work locally in and around Forest Hill.

Festival highlights will include; catwalk shows, markets, children’s events, and designers showcasing their work in local shops. It will end with a grand finale closing concert staged by Forest Hill Society in the station car park on Sunday, 21st September.

Local Forest Hill craft store Stag & Bow will be organising a Big Knit. It’s an unofficial record attempt to knit as many items as possible. They will be inviting participation in the preceding weeks at a number of events, with the items going on sale during FHFW and all proceeds going to the One Girl charity for the education and empowerment of girls and women in Sierra Leone (www.onegirl.org.au)

Louise Brooks, FHFW founder told us "We're looking forward to delivering the biggest and best Forest Hill Fashion Week to date. We’re aiming to highlight Forest Hill's strong arts identity, as well as providing a platform for the growing crafts and makers community. We have some really talented creatives in Forest Hill and this event will be a celebration of their talent."

Forest Hill Fashion Week is a family-friendly, inviting, community festival with something for all ages, celebrating the wonderful craft, design and creative buzz of South East London.

For all the latest up-to-date Forest Hill Fashion news, please visit www.foresthillfashion.com

Fashion Week - What's On - Wednesday

8pm-11pm It's a Wrap - FHFW closing party

Where better to celebrate the end of FHFW in style than at our established friendly, trendy and central Forest Hill favourite The Sylvan Post, who have created a special FHFW cocktail in honour of the event with a 2-4-1 offer on it all night!! Other £5 cocktail deals and a special snack menu are on offer alongside regular menus. Add a local DJ playing House/electro tunes all night, friendly locals and local fashionistas and this is definitely "THE" closing party to be at! All of drinking age welcome!

Host: Forest Hill Fashion Development Project
Venue: The Sylvan Post, 24-28 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3XZ
Tickets: Free
penelope@foresthillfashion.com // sylvanpost.com

Fashion Week - What's On - Tuesday

7pm-8.30pm Do we need fashion trends?

Expanded anatomy of fashion trends – a fun workshop combined with some examples of seasonal trends for 2013 and 2014, during which we will discuss whether we need fashion trends. There will be some quizzes that will help us see trends in a clearer light. During the workshop participants will learn more about how trend forecasting companies work, about the history of trend forecasting, different types of trends and how trends can be used either for their own outfits or for designing for customers.

Host: Marlena Woolford of Inspiration Trend Analysis Ltd
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free (spaces limited - booking advised)
marlena.woolford@inspirationtrendanalysis.com // foresthillfashion.com/trendsworkshop

Fashion Week - What's On - Monday

It's been a hard weekend and all our models are worn out, so there is nothing planned for today, but they'll be back tomorrow.

It's hard work being fashionable @fhfashionse23

Fashion Week - What's On - Sunday

11.30am-1.30pm Express nail art afternoon

Bunka is bringing the nail art phenomenon to Forest Hill, ladies. Pop in and relax as our artiste turns your nails into a work of art. Come with unpolished nails, leave with a design of your choice.

Host: Ayshin Demirci of Bunka
Venue: Bunka, 4 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3XU
Tickets: Free, but booking required. Call or come into store to reserve your place
020 8291 4499 // facebook.com/bunkafh

Midday-1pm Make a stylish leather cuff

Learn how to make a simple and stylish leather cuff of your own, courtesy of the genius behind N'Damus Bags. Materials will be provided but it helps if you can bring some too!

Host: Nneka Onyenakala of N'Damus London
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3HN
Tickets: £10 for materials (spaces limited - booking advised)
leather@foresthillfashion.com // ndamus.com

Midday-1pm Customise clothes with structured frills

Learn how to upcycle an old top with structured frills to give it that VaVaVoom. This great fashion detailing can be used in so many ways! Please bring a metre of silky fabric, a top you would like to upcycle, fabric scissors, matching thread and pins.

Host: Molly Quest
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free (spaces limited - booking advised)
mollyquest@gmail.com // mollyquest.blogspot.co.uk

Midday-2pm The Tie’s the Limit!

Join us at Stag & Bow for a very special Forest Hill Fashion Week workshop, showing you how to work drab old ties into something special… SE23 will be ringing with the cries of - “Oh no! I haven’t seen your ties in ages dear!”

Host: Pascale Spall of Stag & Bow
Venue: Stag & Bow, 8 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3XU
Tickets: Free (spaces limited - booking required) Details on request or our website.
info@stagandbow.com // 020 8291 4992 // stagandbow.com

2pm-5pm Re-fashion your Fashion

Take something old and turn it into something completely different, with the help of the upcycling genius of your host Paulina. Bring your own project or get experimental with our abundance of preloved clothes.

Host: Paulina Palian & Frockcycle
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free
pen@frockcycle.co.uk // frockcycle.co.uk

4pm-5pm Get the bra right to get your fashion right

This is a bra-fitting workshop for fuller-busted females who struggle with ill-fitting bras. A correctly-fitted bra can make you look pounds lighter and boost your body confidence. Join us for our demonstration of the world of a well-fitted bra, then ask questions and share your bra-fitting problems - maybe some solutions can be found. Our free individual bra-fitting will let you understand how a properly fitted bra should look and feel: marvel at how different you look in your clothes.

Host: Kyra Pitter of The Fitting Studio
Venue: The Fitting Studio, 16 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3XU
Tickets: Free
help@thefittingstudio.co.uk // 020 8613 8038 // thefittingstudio.co.uk

4pm-6pm Beads & Kids

A children's jewellery-making workshop. Upcycle everyday objects to create something unusual.

Host: Marcin Giebultowski
Venue: Doopo Doopo, 15 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free
info@doopodoopo.co.uk // 0203 632 5041 // doopodoopo.co.uk

5pm-6pm Five beautiful ways with bra straps

Bra straps can be the bane of the stylishly-inclined, especially for the most wellendowed amongst us. Come and discover ways to disguise, replace or remove them altogether, beautifully! Bring your problem bra and/or top to explore solutions.

Host: Penelope & Kyra
Venue: The Fitting Studio, 16 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3XU
Tickets: Free (spaces limited - booking advised)
brastraps@foresthillfashion.com // foresthillfashion.com/brastraps

7pm-8pm Artsy clothes swap

Are you bored with your clothes? Do you own things you don’t wear? Do you fancy something new and exciting? Bring along 3 pieces of artsy, colourful, exciting clothes & accessories that you would be proud to pass onto a fellow Swapper. Take home 3 new items. Swapping is the new shopping! It’s Frugal! It’s Eco Friendly! It’s Fun!

Host: Agata Zielinska-Hryn of Doopo Doopo
Venue: Doopo Doopo, 15 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN
Tickets: £3 on the door
info@doopodoopo.co.uk // 0203 632 5041 // doopodoopo.co.uk

Fashion Week - What's On - Saturday

10am-1pm Make a unique necklace from ribbons, lace & beads

Learn the techniques involved in making a necklace out of ribbons, beads and lace and then make a beautiful confection of your own.

Host: Jane Gardner of Tattered Stones
Venue: Stag & Bow, 8 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3XU
Tickets: £3 for basic materials to learn the techniques, or £10 to take away a finished necklace using Jane's gorgeous selection of trimmings and beads. Spaces limited - booking advised.
tatteredstones@hotmail.co.uk // 020 8291 4992 tatteredstones.yolasite.com

11am-1pm Bead It jewellery workshop - fix, improve or create

Bring along some of your jewellery to improve it or make something totally new and exciting using our Jewellery Bank. A workshop with a fantastic jewellery designer, and an intro to our jewellery making course starting on Sat 28 September.

Host: Marcin Giebultowski
Venue: Doopo Doopo, 15 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free
info@doopodoopo.co.uk // 0203 632 5041 // doopodoopo.co.uk

11:30-1pm Making a living from Fashion Pt 1

The 12 steps to success

Two inspirational workshops presented by Alison Lewy, founder of fashion business accelerator, Fashion Angel and author of Design Create Sell – a guide to starting up and running a successful fashion business. Find out more about the fashion industry and what it takes to start and run a successful fashion or accessory label.

Host: Alison Lewy of Fashion Angel
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free (spaces limited - booking advised)
fashionangel@foresthillfashion.com // fashion-angel.co.uk

Midday-6pm Personal styling session by Divine Couture

We are excited to offer every female a personal styling session, so if you want some new ideas, inspiration or simply some general styling advice feel free to come down. You can even bring with you that outfit you've been wanting to wear but still unsure of how to work it...

Host: Chantel Wedderburn
Venue: Best of Both Boutique, 71 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HT
Tickets: Free
info@bestofbothboutique.co.uk // 020 8699 2753 // bestofbothboutique.co.uk

2pm-3.30pm Making a living from Fashion Pt 2

Routes to market - where to sell your product

The 2nd part of the workshops presented by Alison Lewy, founder of fashion business accelerator, Fashion Angel and author of Design Create Sell.

Host: Alison Lewy of Fashion Angel
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd SE23 3HN
Tickets: Free (spaces limited - booking advised)
fashionangel@foresthillfashion.com // fashion-angel.co.uk

4pm-6pm Embellish your clothes by hand

Bring along a garment and add your own personal touch using handstitch. Come and play with stitches, threads and trims in this 2 hour workshop with Rowena Ardern, expert designer/maker and embroidery teacher.

Host: Rowena Ardern
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd SE23 3HN
Tickets: £3 for materials
rowenaardern@googlemail.com // rowenaardern.com

4.30pm-6pm Fabric design workshop

Covering the basic aspects of fabric design and printing, this workshop demonstrates how layout can make or break a pattern. Come along to discover the difference between half-brick and half-drop, and the chance to design your own basic repeat.

Host: Madeleine McIndoe
Venue: The Montage, 33 Dartmouth Rd SE23 3HN
Tickets: £3 for materials
madeleine.mcindoe@gmail.com // 07930 205559

Fashion Week - What's On - Friday

6pm-9pm Fashion Late at the Horniman Museum

The FHFW launch event - a night of fashion in association with the Horniman Museum.

Catwalk shows, dance, exhibitions, tours, talks and much more. Horniman Lates are for over 18s only.

Host: Forest Hill Fashion Development Project & Horniman Museum
Venue: Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, SE23 3PQ
Tickets: £3 - pre-booking tickets advised. Call 020 8699 1872 or book online foresthillfashion.com/fashionlate

Second Forest Hill Fashion Week

There will be a second Forest Hill Fashion Week (FHFW) this autumn (20-25 September), and they are looking for local fashionistas to get involved right now!

This time they are doing it in association with the Horniman Museum, who are creating a whole Fashion themed ‘Museum at Night’ event for it. The catwalk shows will be held in Gallery Square, with a fashion market in the Conservatory and lots of other fashion-related events and displays, including static fashion shows.

That's just one evening of course. Over the following few days there will be Fashion Fun all around the Forest Hill shops and venues plus another all-day fashion market.

September will come around very quickly indeed, so this is what they are looking for right now:

• Local designer-makers to submit their collections for consideration for the catwalk/static shows.
• Local fashion/textiles/accessories experts, teachers or enthusiasts to run or host an event/workshop either at the Horniman event or in the high street.
• Ideas for fashion events/workshops that you would love to see.
• Market traders selling designer-maker fashion products.
• Models for the Horniman catwalk show.
• Advertisers and sponsors for their website, brochure or FHFW generally.

For more information and contact details, visit their website, foresthillfashion.com. In the meantime, do put 20-25 September in your diary, subscribe to their newsletter and like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter or do both.

Forest Hill Fashion Week 15-19 February

Explore pop-up boutiques, learn how to upcycle your faded favourites, watch catwalk shows and enjoy fabulously fashionable parties in some of Forest Hill’s best bars and restaurants.

There’s plenty to see, make, buy and get involved with – including dress-up fashion shows for children, and a chance to master the art of creating unique hand-made accessories on a budget.

Events start on Friday, 15th February at the pop-up SEE BOUTIQUE at 10a Dartmouth Road

View all the events at www.see3.co.uk/fhfwevents