Workshops and Events

Stitching Communities Together

The Pocket Parade

11th September 2 – 4pm

Greenwich

Get ready for a spectacular in-person experience filled with fashion, music, fun and excitement. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, this event is all about good vibes and great company. Illuminated Arts presents the Pocket Parade, a community runway show, featuring established fashion designers, community participants and emerging designers all together in Greenwich.

This is the culmination of a series of community textiles workshops linking designers and local community support groups to explore the theme of historical tie-on pockets. The designers and community participants have collaborated to create decorative pockets integrated with new fashion concepts alongside the designers own collections on a spectacular runway with live music.

Stitching Communities Together

The Pocket Parade Exhibition

26th September – 2nd October 10am – 5pm daily

Greenwich

If you missed the Pocket Parade this is the perfect opportunity to see the collection of beautiful historically inspired and personal crafted tie-on pocket created by members of South East London community groups, talented embroiderers and fashion designers.

At The Hub, Bonar Road, in Peckham we will be showing the living archive of pockets as part of the ongoing Stitching Communities Together project Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

This is the culmination of a series of community textiles workshops linking designers and local community support groups to explore the theme of historical tie-on pockets.

Selvedge Magazine – London Textile Month 2026

Make a Historically Inspired Tie-on Pocket

24th September 10.30am – 4pm

A day-long workshop at the Museum of The Home exploring the intimate history of the hussif, a small sewing kit once carried by soldiers as a practical object and a poignant token of care. We will begin with a talk tracing the origins and social significance of these portable sewing cases, before participants are guided through the process of creating their own.

Using a carefully selected range of fabrics and threads, or incorporating personal textile fragments, guests will stitch a beautifully finished hussif that is both functional and deeply personal. The workshop will also introduce hand-stitched monogramming for those who wish to add an individual detail.

Open to all levels, the day offers a thoughtful balance of making, conversation and reflection.

Your day includes materials, tea, coffee and a light vegetarian lunch, with an optional glass of wine, creating a relaxed atmosphere for conversation, connection and the quiet satisfaction of working with needle and thread.

Historical Pocket Masterclass for Sustainable Fashion Week 2026

30th September 2-6pm

Discover the art of creating a timeless tie-on pocket in this inspiring all-day workshop exploring the fascinating history of women’s pockets – symbolic of autonomy and empowerment throughout English history. As you stitch and share creative ideas, hear the fascinating stories of how these practical garments echo powerful themes of women’s independence.

Learn about the hidden history of women’s tie-on pockets in the 18th and 19th Centuries, how they crossed strata of society, got entangled in politics and contributed to women’s autonomy..

Dive into a sumptuous spread of new and vintage fabrics, colourful embroidery threads, beads, and trimmings to use and inspire your personal pocket design.

Stitch ‘n’ Sip Evening

Sustainable Fashion Week 2026

Wednesday, October 7 • 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Join us for a relaxed, sociable evening of hand embroidery at Illuminated Arts studio in Bermondsey, as part of Sustainable Fashion Week 2026.

Led by internationally recognised textile designer and embroiderer Rebecca Cole-Coker, whose hand-embroidered and block-printed textiles have graced the pages of The World of Interiors, House & Garden and Veranda, and whose work is collected by discerning clients across the interiors world. This hands-on session brings her exquisite eye for pattern, colour and craftsmanship to a small, intimate group.

Using a beautiful curated selection of vintage and antique fabrics and trimmings, you’ll learn a handful of simple, satisfying embroidery stitches to create your own decorative patch, perfect for mending a favourite garment or embellishing something new. No experience necessary: whether you’re picking up a needle for the first time or you’re a seasoned stitcher, Rebecca will guide you at your own pace through an evening of slow, mindful making.

Settle in with a glass of wine, get to know your fellow stitchers, and leave with a one-of-a-kind piece, plus a new stitch or two in your repertoire.

Making a Historically Inspired Tie-on Pocket Masterclass.

When our next masterclass is scheduled, we will let you know!