- 10 participants (all UAL students)
- C&E room
- From 6pm to 7.30pm
Choosing upcycling for my first intervention had pros and cons. On the one hand, it allowed all the participants to share their opinions in a fun setting, playing with and bedazzling clothes. On the other hand, some people were more focused on the bedazzling itself to pay attention to what I was asking, and also a participant mentioned how hard it is for them to talk whilst doing something else, which is a fair point.
Overall, I am happy with how this first intervention went. It was a safe space, where people felt comfortable enough to share opinions, interact with each other, give each other styling advice and have fun doing so.
I have sent out a feedback/survey form, which will help me plan my next intervention. I already have a few ideas, but for now I’m going to focus on contacting external stakeholders and establishing those relationships.
Someone asked me why this matters to me. If I said that I was always passionate about this topic, it would be a lie. I have always been passionate about writing, and clothes, but I never thought my research project would end up being this: investigating the future of retail and creating a fashion club. I feel passionate about it now, and it matters to me because I think it is important to curate safe and inspiring spaces for people to interact, have fun, and create together – I see fashion as the ‘glue’. It is a way to express yourself, and show other what’s on your mind. Also, I want to help small shops and independent brands navigate this post-pandemic era.
What I would like Controra to be: an inclusive fashion community, in which people can share styling tips, shop together, and go to events – events like this, that in the future I would like to organise in collaboration with retailers and non.
Things to keep in mind for the next one: do a round of introductions at the very beginning of the session (forgot to do it this time), send out a pre-session form in a different format (I did a word doc, next time I will do a survey), have a clearer set of questions prepared before the session.