GREENGRADS: INNOVATORS, MAKERS, ACTIVISTS…Meet the ECO-CRAFTERS IN Battersea, London

BLOG

18 Apr

*GREEN GRADS is a platform celebrating new graduates with ideas to heal the planet.

“Each of our Green Grads – and we now have 200 listed on our website – has their unique suggested way of dealing with the environmental challenges the world faces today. “Research by the British Retail Consortium shows that consumers/clients now put sustainability right at the top of their buying criteria.” Barbara Chandler

GREEN GRADS is kindly sponsored in*part by Texintel Global Partners, FESPA and Epson UK

SAVE THE DATE: SPRING DECORATIVE FAIR 6th - 11th May 2025

Evolution London, Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ*GREEN GRADS is a platform for new graduates with ideas to heal the planet.

A select cohort of GREEN GRADS* is coming to House Directory Live on the mezzanine at the Decorative Fair in Battersea from May 6th -11th “These are our eco-crafters,” says Barbara Chandler, who founded GREEN GRADS four years ago as a platform for UK graduates “with ideas to heal the planet.” (www.greengrads.co.uk; @greengradsuk). “They are accomplished makers of many kinds but all committed to sustainability and the environment, albeit in different ways. They will share their research, show their differing skills and in many cases invite visitors to join in.”

Here’s a look at the GREEN GRADS in more detail:

Take Jamie Cura, for example, who graduated from the Northern School of Art last summer, and now has her own practice. She will be at the Fair on the first two days, Tuesday and Wednesday May 6th and 7th, showing beautiful new ways to join scraps of waste textiles into sturdy coverings for stools and cushions.

Visitors can absorb her know-how and learn her decorative stitches. Jaime has also made emotive artworks using waste selvedge wool from Sky Weavers in Scotland. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything I do,” she affirms. (@cura.jl).

And weaver Helena Powell is bringing her loom from Scotland to work with deadstock yarns and explain her environmentally-friendly ways with water and dyes. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can weave with her and take away the results (www.helenapowelltextiles.com @helenapowell_textiles). Alongside Helena, artist

Laura Wigham will be collaging waste textiles (www.wildnorthstudio.co.uk @wildnorth.studio).

And joining them will be RCA graduate Yahvi Duggal, who has experimented extensively with biomaterials. She will display her recipes and experiments with dyes from food waste (@_peelstudio).

Lucy Ralph and Jade Durling will also be at the Fair for the weekend setting up the popular GREEN GRADS Repair Hub with non-stop workshops for mending and visible darning - “let’s rework and repair, not throw away.” So sit down a little and stitch! (@lucytrousers @jadesews).

GREEN GRAD Christoph Kurzmann transforms batches of discarded office furniture into editions of elegant stools and tables – he calls it “upscaling upcycling.” Christoph will show his craft techniques on Tuesday afternoon, May 6th (www.christophstudio.com @christophstudio).

GREEN GRAD Sara Howard is a waste warrior, too, a pioneer of “circular ceramics” making elegant tableware from ceramic industry waste. Her Golden Earth Studio uses discarded construction clay for art and homewares. Meet Sara, a graduate of Central Saint Martin’s, on Thursday May 8th and share her innovations and expertise (www.sarahowardstudio.com @sara__howard).

Nurturing nature and celebrating natural materials is a central part of GREEN GRADS.

Simon Redstone is an experienced willow weaver who is pushing willow and coppiced wood in new directions. See how on Thursday and Friday at the Fair (@simon_redstone).

Using the simple craft of needlefelting, RCA graduate Sofia Barbé combines carded wool from various breeds of sheep with jute, recycled wool felt, coconut coir, and flax often with a base of scrap wood. “My inspiration is nature and our connection to it, along with childhood memories.” Sofia will make a large tapestry on site on Friday, inviting visitors to join in (@sofiabarbe_)

Ceramic artist Kurt Alexander (like willow weaver Simon, a graduate of Staffordshire University) is highlighting with his gorgeous bowls the threatened beauty of endangered coral reefs. On Wednesday May 7th he’ll demonstrate moulding and modelling and explain his eco-friendly use of factory waste, alternative glazes, wild clay from Lancashire and pit-firing without a kiln (www.kurtalexanderceramics.co.uk @kurt_alexander_art).

Meanwhile, at the Fair on Tuesday morning, artist and activist Elena Branch is showing her Climate Collection of framedt prints, printed fabrics (in full commercial production) and other merchandise which raises awareness of the climate crisis with bold original designs, inspired by Russian Constructivism (www.elenadrewthis.co.uk @elenadrewthis).

SPRING DECORATIVE FAIR

Evolution London, Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ
Vehicle Entry via Chelsea Bridge Gate ONLY

https://decorativefair.com/

Tuesday 6 May 12pm-8pm
Wednesday 7 May 11am-8pm
Thursday 8 May 11am-8pm

Talk: Introducing the GREEN GRADS 2pm in the Talks Theatre.
Friday 9 May 11am-7pm
Saturday 10 May 11am-7pm
Sunday 11 May 11am-6pm

* GREEN GRADS was founded in 2021 by design editor and curator Barbara Chandler, joined shortly by Michael Czerwinski as codirector/show producer. GREEN GRADS present their own shows – four major annual exhibitions so far - and are invited into numerous other events – such as the Spring Decorative Fair.

There are now 200 GREEN GRADS listed on their website www.greengrads.co.uk, with ongoing news on Instagram @greengradsuk