International Circular Fashion Week: ‘Be part of the change’ as 150 corsets are auctioned
The Corset Revival Project at Leeds Beckett University will showcase 150 corsets brought back to life in support of St Gemma’s Hospice.
Artists have been given the freedom to transform donated corsets using discarded, reclaimed or surplus materials for an event running March 16-17, as part of Circular Fashion Week, when the Leeds Beckett University atrium becomes a live fashion venue, pop-up shop, research lab and performance space – all in the name of sustainable style.
International Circular Fashion Week is in partnership with Circular Fashion Incubator CIC – bringing together global speakers, student enterprise and a fully operational Oxfam pop-up shop under one roof.
Headed by Andrea Benahmed Djilai and Dr Esther Pugh, the Corset Revival Project brings together visionary designers, artists, students, and makers from across the globe, and will later go on a European tour, including at the Budapest Global Sustainability Fashion Week Conference.
All 150 corsets will be sold in a silent auction, with funds going to St Gemma’s Hospice.
Circular Fashion Week event is created by LBU students across fashion, marketing, music and creative disciplines, turning The Rose Bowl into an immersive, public-facing showcase of how circular fashion works in practice.
Key features include: a live conference featuring international voices in circular design and heritage craft; hands-on denim repair and customisation workshops open to attendees; academic research into real-time consumer behaviour taking place on site; and performance, fashion showcases and market stalls.
International Circular Fashion Week Conference sees a special emphasis on cultural heritage and folklore, traditional craft and repair, upcycling and circular design.
The keynote address is by Professor Natascha Radcliffe-Thomas (Ravensbourne University), and also appearing are Phillip Warren, dress historian and chair of the Costume Society, talking about The Foundations of Fashion.
Sing the Thread, Move the Memory will be a live performance blending music, movement and craft, exploring ritual, heritage and the transmission of knowledge across cultures.
There will also be presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, live demonstrations and a fashion show.
On day two, students will run the pop-up retail space in collaboration with Oxfam, selling preloved clothing, books and music with live DJ sets, complete with styled rails, fitting rooms, donation station and interactive installations – creating a fully immersive sustainable shopping experience.
Alongside the retail activity, the International Circular Fashion Week Conference brings speakers from the UK and overseas to Leeds to explore cultural storytelling, traditional craft, upcycling and the future of sustainable fashion.
Dr Esther Pugh of Leeds Beckett University says: “Experience fashion like never before. Our multi-sensory circular fashion event is designed to immerse you in every stitch, story and sound. Discover the movement, engage your senses and be part of the change.”
Organisers say the event positions Leeds as a hub for the growing circular fashion movement, blending education, community engagement and global dialogue.
International Circular Fashion Week takes place March 16-17, 2026, at The Rose Bowl Atrium, Leeds Beckett University. See circularfashionincubator.co.uk