International Circular Fashion Week Conference & Oxfam Pop-Up Bring Two Days of Sustainable Style to Leeds Beckett University

Taking place at The Rose Bowl Atrium on 16-17 March 2026, the International Circular Fashion Week Conference and a student-led Oxfam Pop-Up will run side by side, creating a dynamic programme of talks, exhibitions, workshops, live performance and retail experiences.

Organised collaboratively by Circular Fashion Incubator CIC and students from across the University - including fashion, marketing, music and creative disciplines - the event showcases how education, enterprise and activism can come together to reshape the future of fashion.

Day One: International Circular Fashion Week Conference

Monday 16 March 2026 | The Rose Bowl

Day One centres on the International Circular Fashion Week Conference - a global platform exploring sustainability, innovation and cultural storytelling in fashion.

The 2026 edition highlights:

• Cultural heritage and folklore
• Traditional craft and repair
• Upcycling and circular design
• Bold contemporary expression

The conference opens with a keynote from Professor Natascha Radcliffe-Thomas of Ravensbourne University London, examining the myths and realities of circular fashion. Dress historian Phillip Warren, Chair of The Costume Society, will explore The Foundations of Fashion, alongside international speakers from Italy, Pakistan and India.

A centrepiece of the day is The Corset Revival Project, a global creative initiative led by Circular Fashion Incubator CIC and Dr Esther Pugh of Leeds Beckett University. The project has rescued 150 corsets from landfill and challenged designers worldwide to transform them using only discarded and reclaimed materials.

The reimagined works will be unveiled in a live fashion show and exhibition, with awards presented during the conference. Selected designs will later tour internationally, including an appearance at Global Sustainable Fashion Week Budapest.

Day One also features:

• Sing the Thread, Move the Memory - a live cultural performance blending music, movement and craft.
• A sustainable dye innovation demonstration
• Panel discussion on communicating and selling handmade and upcycled fashion.
• A handmade market featuring independent craft fashion, jewellery and accessories.
• Networking and a closing drinks reception

To attend day one in the Knowledge Exchange spaces are limited so you will need to book, but tickets are free to LBU staff and students:
International Circular Fashion Week Conference 2026 Tickets, Monday, Mar 16 at 09:00 to Tuesday, Mar 17 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Day Two: Oxfam Pop-Up & Conference Programme

Tuesday 17 March 2026 | 10:00-16:00

On Day Two, the conference continues alongside a vibrant Oxfam Pop-Up Shop, curated and delivered by Leeds Beckett students in collaboration with Oxfam.

Running throughout the day, the pop-up will offer preloved clothing, accessories, books and music, supported by live music and a DJ. Students will create a full retail experience including styled rails, serviced fitting rooms, a living feedback wall, donation station and interactive social media activations.

In the Knowledge Exchange, a series of "Sustainable Fashion TED Talks" led by Student Services will explore sustainable fashion from diverse perspectives, including:

10am to 12.00 TED Talks by Student Services in the Knowledge Exchange.
10.00 Wellbeing - Gareth Cavill. Feel Good, Look Good, Do good.
10.25 Disability and Inclusion - Amy Hambrook
10. 50 Global Village - Moira Lundi Samson. Preloved Across Borders: What Global Cultures Teach Us About Sustainable Fashion.
11.15 Student Money - Ben Turney-Chastney. Is Sustainable Fashion Affordable Fashion.
11.40 Jobs and Careers - Ben Robertson - Wear Your Values: Building a Sustainable Career That Actually Fits

You will need to book onto these but its free:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-fashion-ted-talks-by-leeds-beckett-student-services-tickets-1984295580497?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hands-on Denim Upcycling and Personalisation Workshops, facilitated by fashion students, will invite participants to repair, embroider and customise garments using donated or personal items - bringing circular principles to life.

Research into consumer behaviour will also take place during the event in partnership with the Retail Institute, adding an academic dimension to the live retail environment.

A movement, not just an event

Dr Esther Pugh said: "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. See you there!"

Andrea Benahmed Djilali of Circular Fashion Incubator CIC added: "Each corset is a canvas for reimagining what fashion can mean in today's world, and we are so excited to see the many diverse approaches of all our creatives."

Together, the International Circular Fashion Week Conference and the Oxfam Pop-Up demonstrate how circular fashion connects heritage craft, global dialogue, student enterprise and social impact - all within one collaborative, two-day programme.

Staff and students passionate about sustainability, heritage, creativity and circular innovation are warmly invited to attend, collaborate or support the movement.

Event Details
16-17 March 2026
The Rose Bowl Atrium
Leeds Beckett University

For more information on day one:
[email protected]

For more information on day two:
[email protected]