Sheffield, you were a great idea

Inside our first Circular Fashion Fair

From 23 to 25 October, Peddler Warehouse became a place to find pre-loved clothes, meet independent makers, try a workshop and get stuck into conversations about what circular fashion can look like in practice. It was our first Circular Fashion Fair, three days of speakers, panels, workshops and an indie market, and we’re already thinking about the next one.
 

We were also celebrating a huge Re:Yak milestone: since 2023, more than 50,000 garments have been kept in circulation.

The weekend was full of brilliant voices. On Friday, we got into the big questions: can fashion change fast enough, what makes sustainability claims credible, and who gets to be part of the circular fashion movement? And the stage was filled with industry experts; Simon Platts, Vanessa Barker and Rachel Kan. Hosted by the glorious Luinluland who kept the day on track.

On Saturday, conversations followed clothes from materials and makers through to second-hand life, repair and what happens when a garment can’t be worn again. Hosted by expert upcycler Dani Dawks chatting to Sewing Bee legends Nicole Akong and Kit Giroux. 

Sunday brought it back to the joy of second-hand, the work behind Re:Yak and Repairs for Life and our wonderful Re:Yak team Sam and Cat shared their favourite reworks. The Sheffield Style Off closed Sunday with a bang and we witnessed the next generation in action. Local stylists raced against the clock to create looks that the models can wear again and again. 

There was plenty to do between the talks, too: Re:Yak embroidery workshops, screen printing, tote bag painting, khayati embroidery with the Refugee Council, an indie market and rails of (Im)Perfects and one-off samples. It was lovely to see people making things, finding new favourites and sharing ideas as naturally as they shared the space.

 

Zooming out, it felt like a good weekend to be having these conversations. Fashion, like most industries, is being pulled toward AI and automation. What stood out at CFF was how much the opposite was true. The themes that kept surfacing all weekend were community, curiosity, education, inspiration and interaction: people learning a repair skill, asking a maker how a piece was made, swapping recommendations between talks. If anything, it felt like a reminder of what AI can’t do.

One thing we’re taking from the weekend is how valuable it is to make room for honest conversations. Circular fashion has real possibilities, but it also has practical limits for businesses and shoppers. The discussions on Friday brought those realities into the open.

 

Thank you to everyone who said yes: every speaker, host, maker, workshop leader, visitor and member of the Lucy & Yak team who helped make the fair happen. Thank you for bringing your knowledge, curiosity and energy to Sheffield.
 

We went into the weekend excited. We came away even more excited about what can happen when people get together, share what they know and give good clothes another go-around. Sheffield, you were a great idea.

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