Ealing Sewn Up — Sustainable Fashion in Action

Ealing Sewn Up was a borough-wide initiative led by ActforEaling, celebrating sustainable fashion and community creativity. The project combined events, workshops, and public art to inspire positive change around clothing, consumption, and the environment.

1. The Fashion Show & Clothes Swap

Ealing’s first ever sustainable fashion show and clothes swap took place at Gunnersbury Park Museum. The event brought together over 50 volunteers and 14 local organisations, with 100+ school pupils contributing creative designs. By reusing and swapping garments, the initiative saved 350 kg of clothes from waste, preventing an estimated 3 tonnes of carbon emissions and conserving 500,000 litres of water.

2. Creative Workshops

A series of hands-on workshops across the borough introduced communities to practical upcycling skills. Activities included pop-art T-shirt design, jeans refashioning, and no-sew tote making. The sessions gave participants the opportunity to express themselves creatively while learning accessible, sustainable fashion techniques.

3. The Sustainable Fashion Mural

In collaboration with Paint Your Planet and local secondary school pupils, Ealing’s first sustainable fashion muralwas designed and painted at Ealing Broadway (St Saviours Walk). The mural provided young people with a public platform to share positive messages about eco-fashion and left a striking visual legacy in the town centre.

Impact

The project combined art, sustainability, and community action. From a lively fashion show to accessible workshops and a bold public mural, Ealing Sewn Up highlighted how creativity can drive sustainable living and bring communities together.