January 10–March 27, 2025
First annual Slow Fashion Season at the University of British Columbia
Addressing complex problems of sustainability in textiles and clothing
How can we inspire changes in clothing consumption and waste habits? Slow Fashion Season is a set of public events across the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus that presents creative work and research aiming at more sustainable, conscientious use and production of fibres and apparel.
This first annual Slow Fashion Season begins in January with a student sustainable fashion challenge and culminates in late March with an exhibition of professional designers and research initiatives on sustainable fashion at the Hatch Art Gallery and a Slow Fashion Show at the Museum of Anthropology.
The 2025 Slow Fashion Season inspires by presenting creators and researchers working on sustainable clothing, encourages action through the student sustainable fashion challenge, and builds skills through on-campus workshops. There are four central activities:
January 10–February 28
Student Sustainable Fashion Challenge
The challenge invites students to create their own sustainable outfit addressing various aspects of slowed-down fashion, such as re-use, repair, local material sourcing, and regenerative processes. Guidelines and submission via this link.
January–February
Maker Workshops
Workshops will focus on repair, sewing and garment-making, building skills to prolong the lives of garments and make them into fresh looks. Several workshops will pop up across UBC campus during January and February 2025. Find the specific dates and locations on Slow Fashion Season’s Instagram.
March 21–27
Monday–Friday, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Slow Fashion Exhibition at Hatch Art Gallery
AMS Nest 2nd floor, 6133 University Blvd
A one-week exhibition showcasing professional artists/designers, finalists of the Student Sustainable Fashion Challenge, and research posters featuring circular textile and sustainable clothing initiatives. Curated by UBC creative arts faculty and representatives from UBC student clubs, the exhibition will be a chance to get up close to these creations and delve into research that could lead to more sustainable fashion futures.
*March 27, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Slow Fashion Show at Museum of Anthropology
6393 NW Marine Drive
Sustainable fashion collections and the Student Sustainable Fashion Challenge finalists will be presented live in a one-night-only Slow Fashion Show in the stunning Great Hall of Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Hosted by remarkable local performers in this venerable institution for preserving material culture, the event will also be the occasion to announce the winners of the student challenge.
*This event is preceded by a free pre-show screening of THE NETTLE DRESS (68min), 5:00 p.m. at Coach House, Green College, UBC. Visit their website for more information.
Background on Slow Fashion Season
Slow Fashion Season will be an accessible annual forum for exchanging research, building skills, and presenting inspiring initiatives and creative production in the realm of sustainable textiles and apparel. It is an initiative of the new Circular Textiles, Sustainable Fibre, Slow Fashion at UBC, an interdisciplinary research cluster organized by AHVA faculty members Germaine Koh, Alexandra Peck, and T’ai Smith, that includes faculty, staff and students aiming to address the complex problems of textile waste and consumption by researching alternative textile systems and fibre materials. The faculty leads are visual artist Germaine Koh, mechanical engineer Dr. Alexandra Tavasoli, Audain Chair in Historical Indigenous Art Dr. Alexandra Peck, art historian Dr. T’ai Smith, and costume designer Jacqueline Firkins.
Visit Slow Fashion Season and their Instagram @slowfashionseason for more information.
Produced with partners & collaborators: SEEDS Sustainability Programs, AMS Sustainability Office, UBC Museum of Anthropology, UBC Arts & Culture District, Hatch Art Gallery, UBC Art History, Visual Art & Theory, UBC Department of Theatre & Film, DreamStill, Get Thrifty student thrift store
Supported by: The UBC Public Humanities Hub, UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program, UBC Department of Art History, Visual Art & Theory, and the UBC Arts & Culture District
Press Contact: Deb Pickman, UBC Arts & Culture District | 604-822-2769
Faculty Contact: Germaine Koh, Assistant Professor, Art History, Visual Art & Theory | 778-317-9745
