Stripes on the catwalk
ACLOTHING range created by the University of Reading has won a national prize for sustainable fashion. After appearing at London Fashion Week, outfits and accessories designed in collaboration with University of Reading and couturiers Tammam were awarded the Best Customer Engagement Campaign by fashion magazine Drapers.
The range’s design features the warming stripes, a visual data set which charts the changing annual temperatures around the globe since 1850, created by the university’s professor Ed Hawkins.
Since their creation in 2018, the stripes have become a symbol of the continuing climate crisis.
The range was given the award for its campaign to bring the issue of the climate crisis to a range of audiences, which judges noted for its ambitious scope.
Professor Hawkins, professor of climate science at the University of Reading, said: “Bringing about vital climate action cannot be achieved unless we do things differently and this fashion partnership demonstrates a novel approach.
“It’s brilliant to see the impact of the partnership and I hope it will help bring home the reality of climate change to more people, which will lead to more awareness and more action.”
The award comes less than two weeks after the university led the Climate Ambassadors Scheme, which provides schools and colleges access to climate experts and resources.
Lucy Tammam, the fashion designer behind the range of clothing, said: “We set out to make starting conversations about climate change stylish and fashionable and we are so delighted to see the impact this is having.
“Our sustainable scarves, showcased at London Fashion Week, have now been sent across the world and worn by some incredible people, including top scientists at COP26.”
Silk scarves created by Tammam, also featuring the stripes, were worn by some of the attendees to the Glasgow COP26 climate conference in November 2021.
The 2022 limited edition collection used fabrics such as hand-loomed organic cottons, peace silks and Tammam’s exclusive eco-tulle.
The collection also features “reinvented” vintage suits, where luxury fabrics that no longer serve their original purpose are reused.
Professor Hawkins’ climate stripes were described by Enter Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds as “one of the most defining, most crucial images of our time” when they were displayed during the band’s main stage set at Reading Festival in 2019.