Newtown Fashion and Textiles Academy proudly took part in Sustainable Fashion Week 2025, joining forces with others across Newtown to celebrate the town’s vibrant fashion and textile community. As part of the UK-wide initiative, Newtown served as a local hub, hosting a dynamic programme of events that brought together designers, makers, and sustainability advocates. The week featured interactive workshops, live demonstrations, thought-provoking film screenings, and a spectacular public catwalk. The catwalk showcased stunning reclaimed fashion pieces created during the week’s workshops, alongside designs from local businesses, highlighting the creative spirit and environmental awareness at the heart of the community.
Throughout the week, creativity and sustainability took centre stage, highlighting the power of reclaiming personal style while addressing fashion’s environmental impact. The Academy, located in the historic Pryce Jones building, hosted a wide range of workshops, from natural dyeing and eco-printing to upcycling t-shirts using lino print and embroidery. Learners also explored zero-waste pattern cutting and experimented with transforming discarded materials into wearable art, demonstrating how innovation and conscious design can work hand in hand.
A highlight of the week was a special presentation by Sara John of Woolly Wales, who offered an engaging insight into the world of Welsh wool. Her talk covered traditional techniques such as dyeing, hand-spinning, and hand-weaving, while emphasising the importance of sustainability and traceability in wool production. Attendees were invited to get hands-on, spinning wool and even trying their hand at knitting a hat using Sara’s beautiful Welsh wool, sourced directly from the sheep on her farm. The session brought the tactile and sustainable nature of wool to life, deepening appreciation for locally produced fibres. Guests also viewed the short film ‘Woman Grows Jeans’, which explored the powerful connection between fashion, agriculture, and environmental responsibility.
As a community-led initiative, Sustainable Fashion Week in Newtown was enriched by the collaboration between Newtown Fashion and Textiles Academy, Textile Junkies, and other small businesses around the town. The week concluded with the ‘Fashion Reclaimed’ Fashion Show, held in partnership with Severn Hospice, and included a special celebration for The Dressmaker’s Daughter, who turned 100. Hosted at the Elephant and Castle, the event showcased sustainably made pieces from the week’s workshops, alongside contributions from other local sustainable businesses. All ticket proceeds supported Severn Hospice, who also took part in the show.
Leanne Griffiths, Fashion Consultant at the Academy, shared: “It’s been a fantastic week of exploring techniques and showcasing talent. We’ve seen innovative ways to repurpose and regenerate materials, all while building valuable skills for a more sustainable fashion future.”
Sustainable Fashion and Design student Ceri-Anne Davies said ‘I’ve really enjoyed designing and creating my own work. We’ve come together to learn skills and understand the importance of sustainability. There’s too much waste – we need to think more about the future.’
Sustainable Fashion Week was a powerful reminder that style and sustainability can go hand in hand, inspiring both current and future generations of designers and makers to lead the way in conscious fashion. Please click the link below to find out more about the Newtown Fashion & Textiles Academy Courses.
