Alterist X COAG: Sustainability Isn’t Just One Season
London Fashion Week is putting sustainability in the spotlight—but real change isn’t a passing trend. At Alterist, we believe sustainability isn’t seasonal; it’s the future of fashion. This February, we’re proving it.
From February 21st - 23rd, Alterist takes over Camden Open Air Gallery (COAG) for a three-day upcycled fashion pop-up, showcasing a curated selection of independent designers who transform waste into wearable art.
This isn’t just another fashion event—it’s a space where creativity, craftsmanship, and sustainability collide beyond the runway. Expect live customisations, exclusive collections, music, and more.
Launch Party – February 20th (18:00 - 22:00)
We’re kicking things off with a launch event, featuring:
Live Performance by YSEE feat. CheapCuts
Ysee, the French-Togolese singer, has toured the world with Noel Gallagher, performed at Coachella, and opened the Polar Music Prize. Now recording her latest album at Abbey Road, she brings a soulful, unforgettable set to our opening night.
DJ Set by Material Response
A producer and DJ with a genre-fluid selection, Material Response blends everything from soulful licks to high-energy beats—the perfect soundtrack for a night celebrating creativity.
RSVP here
Upcycled Fashion Pop-Up 21st - 23rd February
Shop Upcycled Fashion
Explore limited-edition collections from some of the most exciting upcycling designers in the UK. Each brand brings its own take on circular fashion, from reworked denim to sculptural textiles. Featuring: MINSKI, STUART TREVOR, White Weft, Material Response, 8 Ball Custom Vintage, ['nju]: The Sophist, UIIBA Club, Manufactured Fiction, GLIDE, KABO, Dorota Bojanowska, Couture To Your Door by Maria Loria, ITERUM Studio.
Get Your Clothes Customised 22nd February 12 pm - 6 pm
On Saturday, February 22nd, the gallery will transform into a working studio where designers bring new life to old garments. Bring a jacket that no longer fits, a shirt that feels outdated, or something gathering dust in your wardrobe—and watch it be turned into a one-of-a-kind piece, right before your eyes.
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.
Meet the Designers Leading Customisation:
MINSKI
MINSKI is a UK-based fashion brand redefining sustainable fashion through upcycling and handmade craftsmanship. Inspired by circus and festival aesthetics, MINSKI’s collections exude a bold, playful edge. Known for intricate detailing, the brand transforms garments with piercings, eyelets, silver studs, and chain embellishments—perfect for those who want to add a signature touch to their wardrobe.
What to bring:
Any garment! Shirts, knitwear, jackets, and trousers work best, but they’ll work with whatever you have.
Prices:
- Simple ‘pierced shirt’ with eyelets and chain details: £15-25
- Silver stud designs: £15-50
- Fool diamond details: £30-90 (varies by size and level of detail)
STUART TREVOR
STUART TREVOR doesn’t just upcycle; he redefines. His work reclaims garments through cutting, distressing, patching, and embroidery, turning forgotten pieces into bold new statements. With a philosophy that less is more, his craftsmanship brings edge and longevity to sustainable fashion.
What to bring:
Go through your wardrobe and pick something you love but no longer wear.
Prices:
- Vintage varsity badges: £5-£20
- Hand-painted stencil lettering & paint-splattered garments: £20
- DIY hand-studding: £10
- 2x DIY rock ‘n’ roll button badges: £10
WHITE WEFT
White Weft is a London-based design studio focused on upcycling denim and workwear. The brand gives new life to discarded fabrics through expert patchwork, darning, and applique. Founder Janelle Hanna spent 15 years in the denim industry before launching White Weft to challenge the throwaway culture of fashion. Each piece is meticulously repaired to be worn again—better than before.
What to bring:
Denim, workwear, and sweatshirts are all great for mending.
Prices:
- Small patches from £10
- Knee or elbow patches: £25
- Crotch repairs: £30
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.
Music All Weekend Long
Across the weekend, a lineup of incredible DJs and artists will bring energy to the space.
Friday, 21st February:
Nasty Boy One (17:00 - 19:00) – A curated selection of 90s and early 2000s music to get you moving.
Saturday, 22nd February:
- Hoggy (12:00 - 17:00) – London-based DJ with a sharp ear for curation, blending sounds that elevate every setting.
- Najs (17:00 - 19:00) – A genre-defying set to keep you on your toes.
Sunday, 23rd February:
4TGang & Rocca (12:00 - 19:00) – A collective known for weaving together electro, jazz, and deep house into an immersive, genre-fluid experience.
About Alterist
Born out of activism, Alterist is a platform for designers who reject the industry’s throwaway culture and see fashion as a space for reinvention. We curate and champion a new wave of upcycling designers—makers who transform discarded fabrics, surplus stock, and dead materials into pieces that are completely one-of-a-kind.
Beyond the marketplace, Alterist collaborates with brands to bring a creative vision to waste. This is about using craftsmanship, experimentation, and design to reimagine surplus materials while cutting down textile waste, lowering emissions, and keeping garments in circulation.
Alterist is about using fashion culture to drive change—challenging consumerism, celebrating artistry, and proving that the most exciting and impactful fashion is made from what already exists.
Why Upcycling Matters
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The fashion industry emits more CO₂ than aviation and shipping combined.
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One truckload of clothing is dumped in landfills or burned every second.
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Upcycling saves 90% of the water and energy needed to produce new garments.
About COAG
Camden Open Air Gallery is where art, fashion, and community collide. Founded by Camden native Finn Brewster-Doherty, it champions emerging artists, and independent designers, creating a space that feels raw, immersive, and accessible. COAG is a platform for creatives to nurture and develop their flairs, offering a creative environment to host exhibitions and a diverse range of music, community and pop-up events. Open 7 days a week, COAG is a place to work, relax, and enjoy quality coffee surrounded by street and contemporary art.
COAG brings together photography, painting, graffiti, and installation art, alongside curated collections from independent designers and streetwear brands. From large-scale murals to limited-edition prints, the gallery stays true to Camden’s rebellious, creative spirit—making art something to experience, not just observe.
6th February 2025
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