Collective making for social change

This chapter discussed 'Portrait(s) of Camden' as an exemplar project of collective making for social change. This participatory fashion and textiles project is situated at the intersection of design for social innovation, fashion sustainability, and social justice. Drawing on the theoretical lineage of Ezio Manzini while engaging contemporary debates on design justice, design from the margins, and social change, the chapter argues that boundaries between social design and design for social innovation are increasingly blurred in today’s context of polycrisis. The project, led by Dr Joana Monteiro and developed through a series of co-design making workshops in the London borough of Camden, positions fashion as a democratic, inclusive, and relational practice. Textile quilts created by participants embody diverse lived experiences, generating both tangible outcomes and intangible impacts such as pride, wellbeing, agency, and belonging.

Framed within the social pillar of fashion sustainability, 'Portrait(s) of Camden' exemplifies a shift in the designer’s role from author to facilitator, host, and empathetic listener. The chapter introduces Monteiro’s sororalistic approach to co-design, foregrounding trust, care, and equity through shared making, while critically reflecting on notions of empowerment and power redistribution. Collective or “social making” is discussed as a catalyst for skill-building, cultural preservation, mental wellbeing, and community cohesion. While rooted in community art practice, the project also gestures toward alternative models of purpose-led, small-scale sustainable fashion entrepreneurship. The chapter concludes by addressing ethical, practical, and emotional challenges inherent in socially engaged design, and positions 'Portrait(s) of Camden' as a hopeful model for fashion practices grounded in care, collaboration, and social justice.