THE PATTERN DISTRICT
by Sara Anwar
A single thread through a shirt brings together tailors, bankers and students of Limehouse, London. The traditional skill of shirt-making opens up valuable discussions that take place between different groups in an area. Following Cedric Price’s idea of parliament: where the working people are brought as close to the discussion as possible, this has enacted an parliament to continue into the River Thames off the Limehouse jetty where old clothes are brought to site to tackle to the sustainability issue of waste fashion. Old clothes are used by tailors to teach students the value of stitching, sewing and creating and how that can empower the working people despite the social hierachy that dictates your socio-economic status. The tailors and students are observed by Apsana Begum who sits on an upholstered seat in the Huguenot window and is held to account to implement the discussions into policies. These policies are to help with reducing waste fashion along with secure working status for the highly skilled Bangladeshi tailors of Limehouse.
