Death to Black Friday, Long Live Creativity!
F**K Black Friday, come down to Camden open Air Gallery (COAG) to celebrate the Alterist designers and their creativity by getting your clothes upcycled!
Every Black Friday, we’re bombarded with ads that push us to buy more, consume more, waste more. This annual blitz on consumption devalues artistry, drains the planet's resources, and reinforces the idea that more is better, no matter the cost.
But what’s the real cost? Studies reveal that 80% of products bought during Black Friday end up in landfills, further contributing to an already overburdened planet. This isn’t just waste, it’s a system that undervalues creativity and exploits workers worldwide. At Alterist, we reject this cycle. We believe in honouring the artistry, time, and skill that go into every piece—not cheapening it in the name of consumerism.
This is why this Black Friday, we’re calling on you to Boycott Black Friday and celebrate creativity! In partnership with Camden Open Air Gallery, we’ll be hosting an Anti Black Friday event where you can bring your favourite pieces from your wardrobe and upcycle them into new one-of-a-kind pieces!
Join us and be part of the movement to reclaim creativity!
When:
Saturday, November 30
From 10.30 am to 6 pm
Where:
Camden Open Air Gallery
(216 Camden High Street, London, NW1 8QRE)
Here’s what’s in store:
- Custom Creations: Come down or pre-book a session to have your clothing items transformed by our talented designers. Bring something old, and let us give it a new story.
- Live Demonstrations: Watch our designers in action, upcycling fashion pieces in real-time. Engage with them, ask questions, and learn more about the techniques and inspiration behind each creation.
- Support Independent Upcycle Brands: Explore ready-made, sustainable pieces from designers who are committed to creativity over consumption. Every purchase backs an industry that values thoughtful creation over endless production.
How to Reserve Your Spot at Alterist's Anti-Black Friday Event
To reserve your spot, please email info@alterist.com with pictures of the pieces you wish to bring and a brief description of how you’d like them transformed.
What You Can Get Upcycled?
Will turn your wardrobe into wearable art with their hand-painted designs that reflect themes of identity, gender, and mental health. Choose a design that resonates or get a full custom piece that speaks your story.
Olli Hull is an artist and designer who creates unique, hand-painted wearable art from upcycled vintage and second-hand clothing. His bold designs reflect themes of gender, identity, and mental health, aiming to merge art and fashion. By bringing art onto clothing, Olli hopes to inspire conversations beyond galleries and academic spaces.
What to bring for customisation:
Any item you'd like to transform with a hand-painted design! Whether it's a jacket, jeans, or tote, Olli Hull can create a custom design directly onto your garment.
Prices:
- Full Custom Designs: Pricing ranges from £50 - £150 based on the level of detail and the coverage area.
- Design Selections: Choose from a collection of pre-designed symbols. Each symbol is just £30.
Choose your lino printing plates and colours to create with Dorota Bojanowska your own unique prints on a grament.
Dorota Bojanowska is a multidisciplinary designer based in South London. Her collection includes upcycled vintage clothing as well as individually designed pieces made from 100% natural (mainly linen) or reclaimed/second-hand fabrics. Each garment is one of a kind and has a unique set of hand-screen printed illustrations.
As a designer, Dorota believes true importance lies within the authenticity and functionality of work. Beauty through imperfections, handcrafting individuality and emotional durability are the key values she follows within her creative process.
What to bring for customisation:
Light-coloured clothing such as plain t-shirts or tote bags.
Prices:
- £10-£20 per session
8Ball Custom Vintage will transform your cherished fabrics into unique scrunchies and cropped tees.
8 Ball Custom Vintage, is a female-led family venture nestled between Newcastle and London, that embodies a commitment to sustainability and regeneration. Comprising three dedicated creatives, we envision fashion as a means to contribute positively to the environment.
Fueled by a sincere acknowledgement of the climate crisis, our textiles are meticulously sourced, upcycled, and handcrafted using exclusively second-hand and vintage fabrics. Every piece is thoughtfully designed and sewn by either Angela, Montana or Keiandra in Newcastle or our studio in East London. When you choose to shop with us, rest assured that there is no compromise on your uniqueness, quality, style, the people who made them or our precious planet.
Taking a proactive stance, we not only address carbon avoidance by preventing textiles from entering landfills but also actively contribute to environmental regeneration. For each sale, we embark on a tree-planting initiative, supporting projects that benefit local communities worldwide. Our commitment extends beyond fashion, encompassing care for both people and the planet.
What to bring for customisation
Any textile will work but bear in mind the length and depth we can take from the fabric will reflect the size of your scrunchie Minimum 18 inches long, so items like an oversized button-up shirt or a duvet or table cloth even a curtain all work well, try to pick a cotton fabric like a shirt or sheet rather than a jersey like a Tshirt for the best result.
Prices:
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Scrunchie made from any material £25.
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If you bring a shirt where we can crop the bottom to find the material for the scrunchie we can hem the shirt as well giving you a cropped shirt and matching scrunchie this would be £55.
[ 'nju ]: The Sophist can transform your old clothing with custom patches made from original photography, giving your garments a fresh, eco-friendly makeover through upcycling!
[ 'nju ]: The Sophist is a brand founded by a Korean designer in Italy and now based in the UK, with a strong commitment to zero-waste practices. At the heart of the brand is its customisation service, where each piece is crafted to order, allowing customers to create truly unique garments. The brand creatively reuses threads and dead stock fabrics, using a free-motion embroidery technique, which employs a sewing machine needle as a drawing tool to intricately weave analogue images together.
This custom approach not only results in one-of-a-kind garments but also engages customers in a personal, sustainable fashion experience. To further promote these values, [ 'nju ]: The Sophist regularly hosts custom events, encouraging audiences to participate in the creation process and support eco-friendly fashion.
What to bring for customisation:
Old clothing or fabric-based items (e.g., jackets, bags, hats) for customisation.
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OPTION 1: Customers can choose from a selection of photography-based patches.
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OPTION 2: Request a custom collage design. (Custom collage design, please contact info@alterist.com with the pictures you want to print by 22 November 2024)
Prices:
A) Photography Patches:
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Small (S): £2.5
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Medium (M): £5
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Large (L): £8
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Package deal: £20 (Includes 3 small, 2 medium, 1 large patch)
B) Pre-ordered Custom Collage:
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A5: £12
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A4: £20
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A3: £30
HELEN KIRKUM STUDIO is all about breathing new life into your favourite sneakers and bags. With their Upcycled Charm Bar, you can personalise your pieces using charms crafted from sneaker offcuts—think branding, laces, labels, and other one-of-a-kind details.
Helen Kirkum Studio, established in 2019, is dedicated to transforming discarded sneakers into unique creations, addressing the issue of post-consumer sneaker waste. Their innovative process involves deconstructing single shoes sourced from partners like Traid, a charity retailer committed to sustainable fashion, to create 'Collaged Sneaker Leather'—a distinctive material used in their core product range.
Every piece reflects the history of its materials, celebrating the charm of imperfection and the beauty of resourcefulness. From limited-edition footwear to upcycled accessories, the studio merges art and sustainability, proving that waste can be transformed into wearable treasures.
Customisation Options:
Bring Your Own Sneakers: Personalize your favourite pair or enhance the ones you're wearing.
Bag Accessories: Add unique touches to your bags with upcycled charms.
Pricing:
6 Charms: £10
10 Charms: £15
Bag Charm Clip: £2.50
Gift Set (10 Charms + Clip): £25
To reserve your spot, please email info@alterist.com with pictures of the pieces you wish to bring and a brief description of how you’d like them transformed.
6th November 2024
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