Alterist x Reselfridges: Reworking Fashion Into Wearable Art

This September, upcycled fashion takes center stage at Selfridges London. For two weeks only, Alterist, the UK’s home of upcycled fashion, will transform the iconic store into a living, breathing studio where creativity unfolds in real time.

From 1–14 September, as part of Second Hand September, Alterist is bringing together ten of the UK’s most exciting upcycle designers to reimagine fashion. Shoppers can expect limited-edition, one-of-a-kind pieces made from pre-loved, excess, and discarded materials — each garment carrying the story of its past while becoming something entirely new.

But this is no ordinary pop-up. On select days, the Accessories Hall will shift from showroom to studio as five featured designers — KABO, MINSKI, Imogen Fawkes, Dom Okah, and KIPPA — deconstruct, rebuild, and customise garments live in-store. Visitors are invited to bring in pieces they’ve fallen out of love with and watch them transformed on the spot — through piercing, patching, embroidery, or painting — into wearable art that no one else will own.

“This is about bringing the energy of the studio to the shop floor,” says Alterist Co-Founder Hannah Standen. “Every day will be different, every piece will be different, and every customer will walk away with something no one else has.”

A Movement, Not Just a Marketplace

Founded by activists Hannah Standen and Martina Sorghi, Alterist is more than a marketplace. It’s a movement challenging the culture of disposable fashion. With a growing community of over 200 independent designers across the UK and EU, the platform unites makers who transform deadstock, surplus, and forgotten garments into collections that are bold, unique, and deeply personal.

“Fast fashion made us forget the time, skill, and materials that go into making clothes,” says Sorghi. “Alterist is about reclaiming that. To remind people that fashion isn’t just about the end product, it’s about what went into it, and who’s behind it.”

Through activations like the Selfridges pop-up, Alterist merges fashion, art, and community, creating spaces for experimentation and storytelling. The result? Fashion that reframes how we value the things we own, proving the most exciting future for style is built from what already exists.

Meet the Designers

At Selfridges, Alterist will showcase 15 emerging designers, each with a unique take on sustainability and creativity:

Imogen Fawkes

Intricate, hand-beaded designs made to order from recycled materials.

KABO

Playful reworks of second-hand garments with a queer, crafty edge.

[Nju]: The Sophist

Zero-waste, thread-reuse artistry with intricate free-motion embroidery.

8 Ball Custom Vintage

Family-led upcycling with every sale funding tree-planting projects.

Clara Chu

Transforming discarded household objects into vibrant fashion accessories.

…and more, all united by a shared ethos: that sustainability doesn’t limit creativity, it sparks it.

Why It Matters

Fashion is one of the most resource-intensive industries on the planet — but initiatives like Alterist prove that change is possible when creativity meets responsibility. By spotlighting emerging designers and offering platforms like Selfridges, they’re not only reworking materials, but reshaping the very culture of fashion consumption.

For Londoners and visitors this September, Alterist at Selfridges is more than an opportunity to shop. It’s an invitation to witness craftsmanship in action, to connect with the people behind the pieces, and to reimagine what fashion can be.

Alterist x Reselfridges runs from 1–14 September 2025 at the Accessories Hall, Selfridges London. For more, visit alterist.com or follow @alteristmarketplace.

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