Hotel Elephant presents a programme of events and workshops celebrating the creative and design talents of our studio members for the London Design Festival and Urban Elephant Festival.
The program will include a group exhibition of artwork and objects from our members, including textiles, fashion, fine art and jewellery. The exhibition is free to attend and will run for the duration of the festival.
On Saturday 16th September there is an afternoon of Enamel Jewellery making. Led by expert craftspeople, Zoey and Ray, you will be introduced to the history and significance of enamel jewellery and be taught the techniques and processes to make your own piece of jewellery to take home.
On the evening of the 21st of September: “The Secret Craft: Chinese Filigree Inlay” will introduce the audience to the traditional craft of filigree jewellery and its cultural significance in Chinese heritage. The evening will include an interactive demonstration where visitors can try their hand at the wire stretching technique.
A group exhibition of artwork and objects from the studio members, spanning textiles, fashion, fine art and jewellery. Exhibiting artists include:
Tihara Smith is the founder of a fashion, accessories, and lifestyle brand inspired by the vibrant Caribbean and the Windrush Generation. She is a proud graduate of the University for the Creative Arts Epsom, where she honed her design skills and showcased her Windrush-inspired graduate collection at Graduate Fashion Week 2018. One of the outfits from this collection was acquired by the Museum of London in 2021.
Mairi Gillies is a textile specialist and hand weaver based in London. Originally getting into textiles at a young age, it was during her BA Hons degree in woven textile design at Central Saint Martins where she found her love for weaving.
Mairi has worked as a freelance designer across both sectors of interior and fashion textiles, including exhibiting her woven textiles during London Fashion Week and having her textiles featured in ELLE UK. Her achievements have been recognised by The Heritage Craft Association, shortlisting her to the top 3 for the Young Weaver of the Year Award.
Sara Chyan: a jewellery artist who explores the unique properties of bismuth to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Chyan founded her brand in 2018 based on the bismuth project she began while studying for her Master’s in Jewellery & Metal at the Royal College of Art. The project has already won numerous international awards and has been featured in several high-profile magazines.
On Saturday 23rd September the programme will conclude with a free interactive weaving demonstration and yarn sale. Join textile specialist and hand weaver, Mairi Gillies to learn different techniques of off-loom weaving. Visitors will also get to purchase yarn to take home from the event’s yarn sale.
Hotel Elephant, 5 Spare Street, London, SE17 3EP from 16th – 24th September 2023.
Event times vary. Check website for details.
