Alterist X COAG: Mend The System Live Customisations

Fast fashion is built on exploitation—of workers, of resources, of creativity. Most of the world’s garments are made by women, yet the industry undervalues their labour and discards their work as fast as trends change. This Women’s History Month, the Alterist X COAG pop-up is not just about upcycling clothes—we’re raising awareness of the system that makes them disposable.

From March 28th - 30th, Alterist takes over Camden Open Air Gallery (COAG) for a three-day upcycled fashion pop-up, bringing together independent designers, artists, and changemakers who transform waste into wearable art.

For Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting the women reshaping fashion’s future—not through mass production, but through craft, care, and creativity. Alongside our pop-up, expect:

Live Clothes Customisation – Bring your own clothes and let three designers turn them into one-of-a-kind pieces.
The Launch of 'The Grey’s' Zine – A new publication exploring fashion, art, and sustainability.
Exclusive Upcycled Collections – Limited-edition designs crafted from reclaimed materials.
Music & Community – A space to connect, celebrate, and challenge the way fashion works.

🔗 RSVP HERE

LIVE CLOTHES CUSTOMISATION | 29 MARCH, 12 PM - 7 PM

Fast fashion isn’t built to last, but your wardrobe can be.

Bring your favourite worn-out, outdated, or forgotten pieces, and watch as three designers reinvent them in real time—proving that the most exciting fashion is already in your closet.

Iterum Studio – Thermochromic Paint Customisation

Create colour-changing designs that react to heat and sunlight, making your clothes dynamic and interactive.
Pricing:

Small Patch: £5
Medium Patch: £10
Large Patch: £15
Custom Paint Session: £20

Nju The Sophist – Photography Patchworks

Turn your garments into visual stories with photo-printed patches, blending repair with personal expression.
Pricing:

Small Patch: £2.50
Medium Patch: £5
Large Patch: £8
Package Deal: £20 (3 Small, 2 Medium, 1 Large)

Olli Hull – Wearable Art

Hand-painted designs exploring identity, gender, and mental health, turning clothing into bold artistic statements.
Pricing:

Full Custom Designs: £50 - £150 (Based on detail & coverage)
Design Selections: £30 (Each pre-designed symbol)

"A Letter to Women We Love" | 31 MARCH

More than just a message—this is a keepsake.

In this special activation by Nju The Sophist, participants are invited to write a letter to the women who inspire them. Each message will be carefully transformed into hand-embroidered fabric, creating a lasting tribute.

Process:
✍️ Write your letter on-site using our provided stationery.
🧵 Your words will be digitised and embroidered onto fabric.
📦 Collect later or receive it via post (shipping available).

Pricing:

1 Letter: £18 (Early Bird: £15)
2 Letters: £30 (£15 each) (Early Bird: £26)
3 Letters: £36 (£12 each) (Early Bird: £30)

Shipping: Free UK delivery. Global shipping: £2

Mending Clothes. Mending the System.

Fast fashion isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as designed: to exploit, overproduce, and discard. Women make up the majority of garment workers worldwide, yet their labour is undervalued, their skills overlooked, and their work discarded as quickly as trends change.

This Women’s History Month, we’re mending more than just clothes.

We’re challenging a system that treats fashion as disposable and craftsmanship as invisible. At Alterist, we believe that fashion’s future is not about making more—it’s about making better.

Join us at COAG for a weekend of fashion, art, and resistance—and be part of the movement to Mend the System.