Sustainable Fashion Week is back in Guildford
26 September – 4 October 2026
Sustainable Fashion Week is back! And we’re delighted that ZERO is once again a Guildford Hub, with a week of events designed to help us rethink our relationship with clothes.
This year’s theme is Threads of Resistance – encouraging us to challenge throwaway fashion and discover more creative ways to use what we already have.
From swapping and sewing to block printing and natural dyes, there are lots of ways to get involved.
Why does sustainable fashion matter?
Our clothes have an impact long before they reach our wardrobes, from the resources and energy needed to make them to what happens when we no longer want them.
Fast fashion has encouraged us to buy more, wear clothes for less time and quickly move on to the next trend. Sustainable Fashion Week offers an alternative.
And it doesn’t mean replacing everything you own with expensive ‘sustainable’ clothes.
It can start with something much simpler: wearing what you already have for longer.
Repair it. Restyle it. Swap it. Pass it on. Learn a new skill that can rescue something from the back of the wardrobe. Small actions can help us value our clothes differently – and keep them in use for longer.
Guildford is a Sustainable Fashion Week Hub
Sustainable Fashion Week is a community-led programme with hubs bringing people together across the country to explore more sustainable approaches to fashion.
ZERO is proud to be a Guildford Hub again in 2026, with activities taking place at ZERO and Rosamund Community Garden.
For us, it’s about more than one week of events. It’s part of what we do throughout the year: helping people learn practical skills, reduce waste, share resources and take positive action in their community.
You don’t need to know anything about sustainable fashion or be handy with a sewing machine. Come along, try something new and perhaps leave looking at your wardrobe a little differently.
What’s happening in Guildford?
Sew Simple with Joan: Cushion Covers – Saturday 26 September Bring along fabric or a piece of clothing you love and learn how to transform it into a cushion cover. Beginners are very welcome.
Clothes Swap – Saturday 3 October Swap, don’t shop! Bring up to three good-quality items you no longer wear and exchange them for something new-to-you.
Block Printing – Saturday 3 OctoberBring an old garment and give it a fresh look using block printing. A creative way to revive something you might otherwise have stopped wearing.
Swop Shop Stitching onto denim Mending circle - group of people sat round mending, talking and drinking tea Block printing Sewing machine repairing jeans Block printing
Natural Plant Dye Workshop – Sunday 4 October Join Erin from Kindred Cloth Collective at Rosamund Community Garden and discover how plants can be used to create beautiful natural colours on textiles.
Dye Workshop 2025 Dye flowers onto of some naturally dyed fabric Natural dye finished tote bag Placing dye flowers onto a tote bag and rolling it up Collecting dye flowers for dyeing Placing dye flowers onto tote bags ready for dyeing
Threads of Resistance
So what does this year’s theme mean to us?
It’s about resisting the idea that clothes are disposable. Every time we repair something instead of replacing it, swap instead of shop, choose second-hand or find a creative new use for something we already own, we’re making a different choice.
Individually these actions might feel small. Together they can help build a culture where we value our clothes, our resources and the people involved in making them.
Come and join us
Whether you’re a keen sewer, a second-hand convert or simply curious about doing things differently, everyone is welcome.
Sew Simple with Joan poster Swap shop and block printing Natural Plant Dye Workshop
Join us from 26 September – 4 October and be part of Guildford’s Sustainable Fashion Week.
See our full Sustainable Fashion Week programme for event times, booking information and everything happening throughout the week.
Sustainable Fashion Week FAQs
What is Sustainable Fashion Week?
Sustainable Fashion Week is a community-led initiative that helps people explore alternatives to fast fashion. Through events, workshops and activities, it encourages us to learn new skills, make the most of the clothes we already own and think differently about how we buy, wear and dispose of clothing.
What does ‘Threads of Resistance’ mean?
Threads of Resistance is the theme for Sustainable Fashion Week 2026. It’s about challenging throwaway fashion and recognising the power of everyday actions – from repairing and rewearing to swapping, upcycling and choosing second-hand.
Do I need sewing or fashion skills to take part?
Not at all. Sustainable Fashion Week is for everyone. Our activities are designed to be welcoming and accessible, whether you’re already a confident sewer or have never picked up a needle and thread.
How can I make my wardrobe more sustainable?
Start with what you already own. Wear your clothes for longer, repair things when you can, swap with friends or at clothes swaps, buy second-hand and try upcycling items you no longer wear. You don’t need to completely change your wardrobe – small changes can make a difference.
Where is Sustainable Fashion Week happening in Guildford?
ZERO is a Guildford Hub for Sustainable Fashion Week 2026, with activities taking place at ZERO on Walnut Tree Close and at Rosamund Community Garden. Check our Sustainable Fashion Week page for individual event locations, times and booking information.
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