Returning to House of Wingz this weekend, Blackpool Style Assembly brings together upcycled fashion, live performance, visual art and grassroots creativity for an event that values imagination over consumption.
At a time when fashion is dominated by algorithms, influencers and endless consumption, Blackpool Style Assembly offers something refreshingly different as it returns to House of Wingz this Saturday.
Born out of House of Wingz’ evolution into fashion, Style Assembly has quietly established itself as one of Blackpool’s most unique creative gatherings – bringing together designers, artists, performers, photographers, musicians and makers for an evening that treats the catwalk less as a sales floor and more as a canvas.
In its latest edition, Style Assembly reasserts its commitment to a core principle – fashion should be about creativity rather than consumption.
“We’re very clear with designers that we want to see pieces that have been upcycled, remade and reimagined,” says founder and creative director Aysh De Belle. “Nothing that’s been mass-produced or ordered online specifically for the show. We’re trying to make the point that fashion shouldn’t be about consumerism. It should be about creativity and imagination.”
It’s an ethos that runs through every aspect of the event. One of the stars of the show is the the house Crafty Collection, which has an ongoing evolution. Originally created in 2021 by Aysh and Monica Wardle of Crafty Cloth using a pile of second-hand clothing, the collection has taken on a life of its own. Each year a different designer is invited to reinterpret the pieces, creating a new body of work from the same materials.
The result is less a fashion collection than an ongoing creative conversation about sustainability, reuse and the possibilities hidden inside discarded materials.
This year the collection has been handed to Sophie and Ava – aka She and Her from HerBrand – known for its custom hats and accessories.
“In the first Style Assembly Blake Rainey styled it as a Berlin nightlife-inspired collection,” says Ava. “In the second, Aysh styled it as a sportswear collection. It’s all red, black and white and there’s lots of Adidas and streetwear, mixed with lace, mesh and sequins.
“We’re styling it in a very HerBrand way this year. It’s going to be very feminine, very queer, very extra and there’s going to be a lot of our pieces mixed in with it. I’ve made some clothing, Sophie’s made some ties and we’ve made some hats which is a big theme of HerBrand.
“In true HerBrand style there’s going to be a lot of fluff, frills and jazzy stuff. So we’re very excited to present it in a very different light.”
Aysh will also be presenting her own collection, utilising from discarded toys to explore the relationship between childhood and adulthood through a playful, Jeremy Scott-inspired lens. Meanwhile, Sam De Belle’s Blackpool Mecca collection takes Northern Soul as its starting point, and will be accompanied by photography from local documentarian Richard Oughton alongside original music and choreography.
The Old Electric will bring the theatre to the catwalk as they preview costume designs created by Janine Walker for the theatre company’s forthcoming production of Sideshows, Seagulls and Shanties, while Blackpool School of Arts students Ruth Hannibal and Carla Wilson will showcase their graduate collections.
For Aysh, providing that platform has become as important as the clothes themselves.
“It feels like there aren’t any limitations because we’re not trying to produce things for people to buy,” she says. “We’re just trying to show how creative, outside-the-box and underground our community can be.”
That community spirit has become central to Style Assembly’s identity. This year’s event sees Aysh stepping back slightly from day-to-day production, and Ava taking on a larger organisational role, supported by Iz Durose and Finley Jaqs of Durose Studios. The event has become a space not only for showcasing work but for developing skills, building confidence and creating new collaborations.
“Taking on the role of organising Style Assembly has been so much fun – I’ve absolutely loved it,” says Ava. “Sophie and I both model, style and design so this is really a natural evolution of our work. Having the responsibility of organising models, speaking with photographers and organising our own fashion event has been a very exciting opportunity for us to grow and learn more about events. It’s been a chance to go all in and include everything we already do.”
Visitors can also expect a catwalk from Blackpool’s own Funny Girls, presenting costumes from their show, and Crafty Cloth will present its vibrant, textured pieces. Pre-show, Tim Panter will be drawing live caricatures alongside interactive creative activities and an after show party will feature DJ sets from SheUnplugged and DJ Lomax.
Volunteers are currently hard at work transforming House of Wingz’ studios and Ralph’s House skate park into a runway and exhibition space ready to welcome the community.
“People are really pulling together to get it all together,” says Aysh. “It’s a brilliant vibe and we’re really excited to provide another opportunity for the community to all to get together and jam.”
Blackpool Style Assembly is at House of Wingz on Saturday 13th June, 6pm-11pm. Tickets are £10 and available in advance here. All proceeds support The House BPL Charity, helping provide creative and cultural opportunities for young people across Blackpool.
