Bethany Williams
Bethany Williams
All Our Stories
Installation, 2021
Public realm curation and commissioning for King’s Cross, ‘All Our Stories’ by sustainable fashion designer, humanitarian and artist, Bethany Williams was an installation of 90 colourful, illustrated hemp slub flags. A project which shares the beauty of folklore, and stories shared across generations, through craft, care, and support for those most vulnerable in society.
‘All Our Stories’ is based on a collection of illustrated, intergenerational stories inspired by collaborative storytelling workshops that Williams conducted with the families from the East London grassroots organisation, The Magpie Project, a charity that supports women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and London College of Fashion’s Making for Change, a fashion training and manufacturing programme established at HMP Downview in 2014 and now also based at Poplar Works. Williams teamed up with illustrator and artist Melissa Kitty Jarram to transform these stories into a series of illustrations, which in turn were transposed into flags.
Making of ‘All Our Stories’ flags
As now standard for all of our textile projects and baked into the overall project budget, this was the first life of the fabric. Following the decommissioning of this installation, William’s used half in an exclusive denim capsule with Browns Fashion, incorporating the flags' into linings and patchwork details. The remaining flags were repurposed into a series of eight patchwork appliqué artworks and thirteen flag wall hangings. 100% of the sale price going to support The Magpie Project’s emergency grants.
The project was co-curated with Rebecca Heald.
Company
Bethany Williams, Melissa Kitty Jarram, Rebecca Heald, Making for Change, The Magpie Project and Fabulous Rigging.
Place
King’s Cross for King’s Cross Central Partnership Ltd & Related Argent.
Photography
John Sturrock & Bethany Williams
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