SFW HUB: THAMES RIVERSIDE
thames riverside
〰️
thames riverside 〰️
Introducing SFW Hub: Thames Riverside. Led by Rebecca Cole-Coker, the director of Illuminated Arts CIC in London.
WHAT’S ON?
Friday 11 SEPTEMBER
-
Times: 2.00pm-4.00pm
Illuminated Arts presents the Pocket Parade, a community runway show, featuring established fashion designers, community participants and emerging designers all together in the fantastic setting of the Queens House collonades in Greenwich.
This is the culmination of a series of community textiles workshops linking designers and local community support groups to explore the theme of historical tie-on pockets.
Location: Queens House, Greenwich
Tickets: Book here.
monday 21 SEPTEMBER
-
Times: Running between 21 September - 26 September. 10.00am-8.00pm weekdays. 10.00am-5.00pm weekends.
Illuminated Arts presents a selection of beautiful hand-stitched, historically inspired Pockets made by members of community groups in SE London in workshops funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, City Bridge Foundation and United St Saviours charity. The Pockets have been incorporated into contemporary fashion by emerging and established designers as part of the Pocket Parade runway show in Greenwich and some of these outfits will also be on display.
No booking required.
Location: The Hub, Bonar Road, Peckham SE15
Thursday 24 SEPTEMBER
-
Times: 10.00am-4.30pm
Illuminated Arts leads a day-long masterclass workshop exploring the intimate history of the hussif, a small sewing kit once carried by soldiers as a practical object and a poignant token of care. Melissa Jo will begin with a talk tracing the origins and social significance of these portable sewing cases, before Rebecca guides participants through the process of creating their own. Ticket sales are used to fund provision of free community workshops in SE London.
Basic stitching skill an advantage. Running as part of Selvedge Magazine London Textile Month
Location: Museum of the Home. 136 Kingsland Rd, London, E2 8EA
Tickets: Book here.
Saturday 26 september
-
Times: 1.30pm-4.00pm
Making the art of mending accessible to everyone regardless of stitching experience is a great way for the Blackheath Embroiderers Group to share skills and enthusiasm for all things stitch.
You may like to repair a moth-eaten garment, or a textile with happy memories attached, re-purpose an old fabric or simply enjoy the process of stitching for decorative pleasure. Beginners welcome.
Location: Blackheath Embroiderers. Quaker Meeting Room Lawn Terrace, Blackheath. SE3 9LL
Tickets: Book here.
wednesday 30 september
-
Times: all day masterclass.
Part of Illuminated Arts series of events inspired by historical domestic textiles.
Discover the art of creating a timeless tie-on pocket in this inspiring workshop exploring the fascinating history of women’s pockets - symbolic of autonomy and empowerment throughout English history. As you stitch and share creative ideas, hear the fascinating stories of how these practical garments echo powerful themes of women’s independence.
Location: Cherry Garden Hall. 210 Jamaica Road London SE16 4RT
Tickets: Book here. Ticket includes light lunch and a glass of wine.
wednesday 7 OCTOBER
-
Times: 6.30pm-8.30pm
Join Illuminated Arts for a relaxed, sociable evening of hand embroidery at Illuminated Arts studio in Bermondsey, as part of Sustainable Fashion Week 2026.
Led by internationally recognised textile designer and embroiderer Rebecca Cole-Coker.
Using a beautiful curated selection of vintage and antique fabrics and trimmings, you'll learn a handful of simple, satisfying embroidery stitches to create your own decorative patch, perfect for mending a favourite garment or embellishing something new. No experience necessary.
Location: The Studio upstairs, Cherry Garden Hall. 210 Jamaica Road London SE16 4RT
Tickets: Book here.
VENUE ACCESSIBILITY
The venues are wheelchair accessible, except for the final stitch & sip session in our studio which is up two flights of stairs.
MEET YOUR HOSTS:
Illuminated Arts CIC provides community workshops and masterclasses focussing on bringing hidden personal and social heritage to light through creative activities. Led by Artist & Social Historian Melissa Jo Smith and Textile Designer Rebecca Cole-Coker, Illuminated Arts' is hosting a series of events for Sustainable Fashion Week in the South East of London.
Kicking off with the Pocket Parade community runway show in Greenwich and continuing with a Historical Pocket-making workshop in Bermondsey, a collaborative textile mending workshop in Blackheath and an exhibition of Historically inspired Pockets in Peckham we finish with a light 'stitch & Sip' session at the studio in Bermondsey.Arts University Bournemouth.
