Graduate Fashion Foundation x Shelter
Who are we?
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support, and legal services. We campaign to make sure that one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.
What’s our interest in fashion and design all about?
Designer Jo Cope and Shelter came together in 2020 for a truly unique collaboration, demonstrating the powerful role fashion can play in society. ‘Shoes Have Names’ was shown at Boutique by Shelter in Coal Drops Yard, and celebrated the positive change Shelter has helped make through our advice and support services to people struggling with bad housing. A diverse range of highly skilled shoe designers/artists were invited to work with individuals who faced homelessness to understand their story and their future hopes after working with Shelter.
The resulting shoes and exhibition represented the ‘positive steps forward’ made by individuals and families. And the exhibition demonstrated how fashion can act as a vehicle for positive social change. We’d like you to help us build on that.
The Challenge
Shelter would like to continue to use fashion to connect the public with the issues we are battling in 2021/22 - to start a conversation around homelessness and its impact on communities, families and individuals.
As students, the current and future generation of renters who need safe and secure homes, it is a perfect time to use your creative voice to engage with these important social issues.
We want you to develop and create ideas in your chosen discipline around the theme of 'activism' for housing rights. Research the issues, use personal experiences and talk to friends. How can you use fashion as a vehicle to educate and drive positive change in society?
One of the many ways Shelter generates funds for their essential work, is through a network of over 90 community charity shops and Boutiques across the UK. These act as bases to not only promote sustainable fashion, but also provide information to people through campaigning.
To help you we have created three key subcategories of focus your concepts around:
● Housing Emergency - Hundreds of people are dying on our streets, thousands are homeless and millions more are at risk of losing their homes. Our housing system is broken, but it doesn’t have to be this way. We need as many people as possible to join our campaign and be part of the movement tackling the root causes of the housing emergency.
● Renters’ Rights - In the last two decades, the number of households renting privately has doubled. Private renters also face the highest average weekly housing costs and have to put up with poor quality housing. That’s why we’re campaigning to improve conditions and consumer protection by pressing the government to establish better rights for renters. Shelter is fighting for an end to discrimination and better security so renters can put down roots.
● Build more social housing - Social housing is at risk. In England, last year we lost 17,000 more homes than were built. Over 1 million households are on the waiting list for a social home, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more are struggling in poor quality and insecure housing. A better future is possible, but to build it we need a new generation of social homes.
This project is not limited to but could include:
● Design ● Branding ● Marketing ● Styling ● PR ● Photography ● Digital ● Print
Work Requirements: Outcomes will vary according to your discipline and medium, but could include photography and graphics, future campaign ideas, T- shirt campaigns, textiles, fashion design, product design, digital online marketing, conceptual or commercial fashion ideas or a mixture of the above.
Branding We would like any Shelter branding in your designs to be original, creative and carrying an activist style rather than borrowing Shelter’s current brand style or image. We want to see your creative interpretations of the concept of Shelter as a brand and its current issues.
Who Open to all BA students from Graduate Fashion Foundation Member Universities who are on a course registered under membership with GFF – Any year group can apply (if in doubt ask your tutor)
Prize Your work will be showcased at ‘Boutique by Shelter’ at Coal Drops Yard, featured on social media during GFW 12th-18th June 2021 and you will receive an 11” iPad Pro.
Important dates The deadline to submit your entry is midnight on Wednesday 31st March 2021. Submit via the entry form: https://forms.gle/Eq1khCbbdH9h65Uu5
• All entries must be submitted as one PDF no larger than 10mb • Please ensure you include the entrants full name, university, course and personal contact details • Submissions can only be made by a University Tutor and not by a student directly. Please discuss your submission with your tutor. • Late entrants will not be included in the selection process.
Understand the challenges and find inspiration Understand what Shelter does: https://england.shelter.org.uk/what_we_do/our_strategy Shelter’s latest campaigns: https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns Explore Shelter’s films on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/shelteruk/videos Read how Shelter’s frontline services are helping people during coronavirus: https://blog.shelter.org.uk/2020/05/on-the-frontline-with-shelter-services-during-coronavirus/ Read about the latest housing issues the Shelter team is tackling: https://blog.shelter.org.uk/ Find your local Shelter shop: Find a Shelter shop - Shelter England Explore the exhibits and back stories of Shoes Have Names: www.shoeshavenames.com
Follow Shelter’s Instagram accounts @sheltercharity @shelterkingscross @ShelterShops @shoeshavenames
Extra resources and research around Shelter, housing and homelessness
Shelter website links https://england.shelter.org.uk/what_we_do/history https://england.shelter.org.uk/what_we_do https://england.shelter.org.uk/what_we_do/our_impact https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns/campaign_with_shelter https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns/rights_for_renters
Film and photography
Shelter archive posters and photographs
Film The director Ken Loach is recognised for his socially critical directing style. He tackles issues such as poverty, social inequality and worker’s rights. Often difficult to watch, Loach’s films confront the viewer with their gritty realism about ‘’ordinary people’’ (Loach). His film Cathy Come Home (1966) was released the same year Shelter was formed and for the first time a national conversation about homelessness and social housing began.
Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach - Cathy Come Home clip I, DANIEL BLAKE - OFFICIAL UK TRAILER [HD]
Photography Photographer Nick Hedges captured families and interiors of slum housing in the 1960s early 1970s.
Hedges used second-hand simple film cameras with no additional lighting. He developed the film at home continuing the intimacy of the process.
http://www.nickhedgesphotography.co.uk/photo-gallery/slum-housing-and-poverty/slum-clearance https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/27/housing-crisis-nick-hedges-photography-slums
Fashion and Sleeping Rough: https://www.empowermentplan.org/the-coat https://www.raeburndesign.co.uk/pages/about https://www.dezeen.com/2020/12/02/the-book-of-homelessness-is-the-first-graphic-novel-created- by-homeless-people/ https://www.dezeen.com/tag/homelessness/
Hostile Architecture: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/nyregion/hostile-architecture-nyc.html https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/18/defensive-architecture-keeps-poverty-undeen- and-makes-us-more-hostile
https://www.streetroots.org/news/2019/06/07/you-are-not-welcome-here-anti-homeless- architecture-crops-nationwide
Grenfell: https://londoncallingblog.net/2017/07/28/new-ben-eine-street-art-tribute-to-the-victims-survivors-of- the-grenfell-tower/ https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/oct/09/future-relics-london-council-houses-frank- laws
‘Estate: Art, Politics and Social Housing in Britain 2010’ - Fugitive https://www.fugitiveimages.org.uk/projects/estate.1/extracts-from-estate https://www.fugitiveimages.org.uk/projects/i-am-here/ https://www.fugitiveimages.org.uk/projects/estate.1 https://www.fugitiveimages.org.uk/projects/a-fourth-gallery-essay-series-of-images./
A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain – Owen Hatherley https://www.versobooks.com/books/951-a-guide-to-the-new-ruins-of-great-britain
NW by Zadie Smith https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/31/nw-zadie-smith-review
Estates by Lynsey Hanley https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/jan/06/communities.housing
Materials: https://www.archdaily.com/881187/which-are-the-most-used-materials-in-social-housing http://www.socialhousinghistory.uk/wp/concrete/ https://www.self-build.co.uk/green-building-materials-and-products/ https://constructionclimatechallenge.com/2019/09/11/new-look-to-eco-social-housing-in-the-uk- wins-prestigious-riba-award/ Rocks 2020 ROCKS Trailer (2020) Teen Drama Movie
Shoes Have Names selected stories: https://www.shoeshavenames.com/blog/dr-ellen-sampson-x-angela https://www.shoeshavenames.com/blog/the-absence-of-a-home-a-home-full-of-absence-no-space- for-traces https://www.shoeshavenames.com/blog/kristina-walsh-x-sarah
Terms & Conditions:
1 Maximum one entry per person per competition. Entries by third parties are not accepted.
2 Proof of sending an entry shall not constitute proof of receipt. No responsibility is accepted for entries that are lost, misdirected, late, damaged, illegible or for any associated costs.
3 By entering the competition, you agree to participate in any reasonable promotional activity, including photographs and audio and/or visual recordings, if you are selected as a winner. The promoter reserves the right to use the names and addresses of winners.
4 There are no cash alternatives to the prizes and prizes are not transferable.
5 In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the promoter reserves the right to replace entire prizes or prize components with prizes of equal or greater value.
6 Competitions may feature in other promotional material. Winner(s) accept prize at own risk.
7 Entries are to be submitted via the link in this form only.
8 All entrants hereby warrant that:
• They are the sole owner of the intellectual property rights in their entry; • They are free to assign those rights to the promoter; and no third parties hold any rights, charges or interest over all or part of their entry.
9 The promoter is Graduate Fashion Foundation, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE
10 The promoter shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever, except for death or personal injury, arising out of the administration of the competition, or out of the winner’s or any third parties enjoyment of the prizes.
11 In consideration of the promoter agreeing to consider entrants, each entrant (and/or the entrant’s parent or legal guardian) hereby assigns to the promoter copyright and other intellectual property rights (including any rights in artwork, labels, designs, logos or text, including any goodwill) and any other rights, title or interest in the entry, to the promoter for the whole term of such rights and you will do all things necessary to give full effect to this assignment and patents act 1988 in relation to their entry. All entrants hereby waive their moral rights, where such rights may arise under the copyright, designs.
12 The promoter does not accept responsibility for the return of any entries, including those consisting of artistic or other material. Any personal data relating to entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the individual’s prior consent.
13 Prizes are awarded at the promoter’s discretion and no prizes will be awarded as a result of improper actions by or on behalf of any entrant.
14 Closing date for receipt of all entries is detailed on the competition information sheet attached to these terms and conditions.
15 Competitions are open to students at the level, year of course, or age as specified on the competition information sheet attached to these terms and conditions that are attending universities that are members of Graduate Fashion Foundation excluding employees (and immediate families) of Graduate Fashion Foundation, its affiliated companies or anyone professionally connected to the promotion.
16 After the closing date, the judges will select the entries, which are, in their opinion, the winners. The promoter’s decision is final in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into.
17 Details of prizes can be found on the competition information sheet attached to these terms and conditions.