Raffia Embroidery at V&A Upstart Festival

This November, the V&A is hosting Upstart Festival a free event for young people to explore careers in fashion. Visitors will get a chance to learn new skills, meet designers and artists, and connect with likeminded creatives. I’m excited to be hosting a drop-in Windrush embroidery workshop as part of the festival on the 11th November.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, commonly referred to as the V&A, is an iconic cultural institution located in the heart of London. It is one of the largest museums of decorative arts and design in the world.

Founded in 1852, the V&A has been a major source of inspiration for designers, artists, and creatives for many years. The museum has a large and comprehensive fashion collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dress in the world with items from the 18th century onwards. The V&A curates various fashion exhibitions to show off their collections. Current exhibitions include Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto and DIVA.

The Victoria and Albert Museum is committed to education and outreach and therefore hosts a range of activities and events throughout the year, including lectures, workshops, and family-friendly activities.

Upstart Festival is a free event for young people to explore careers in fashion taking place on the 11th November 2023. Visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a range of creative workshops including fashion illustration, repurposing preloved clothes into original creations, and dreaming up DIVA outfits with unconventional materials.

There will also be exclusive talks from designers and fashion professionals offering advice on how to build and sustain a happy and healthy creative career. It is the perfect event if you are looking for guidance on how to manage your wellbeing whilst working in the fashion industry and to get pointers to the right next step for you - whatever stage you are at on your journey. 

All events are free. Some events are ticketed and can be booked in advance and, depending on availability, on the day. Places for other events will be designated on a first come first served basis. Click here to see all events. 

This embroidery drop-in workshop for the Upstart Festival has been created by me, Tihara Smith, in collaboration with the V&A. I am a textile artist and designer inspired by my Caribbean heritage and the Windrush Generation. In 2018 I graduated with a fashion degree from the University for the Creative Arts Epsom, presenting my Windrush inspired collection at Graduate Fashion Week. An outfit from this collection was acquired by the Museum of London in 2021. 

Today, I continue to explore my Caribbean heritage and the Windrush history through design. I am excited for the opportunity to share what I have learnt from my experience studying fashion design with young people interested in a fashion career. 

Celebrating Windrush: Embroidery Drop-in with Tihara Smith  

Join me for a fun and creative embroidery workshop inspired by Caribbean culture. Drop-in and create your own wall art that celebrates your culture and identity inspired by the Windrush. Plus, have a go at raffia embroidery and create a raffia embroidery sample (whilst materials last).  

This is a drop-in workshop and places are designated on a first come first served basis.  

This workshop will take place at the Victoria & Albert Museum - V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
 

🗓 Saturday 11th November 2023⁠ 

🕚 11am - 5pm  

🖼 John Lyons Community Gallery

See you there!