HIDDEN FLOORS: An Intro to Fashion’s Digital age: an Innovative Collaboration & new Exhibition Floor at V&A Dundee !

SRD StepPED into the next era of fashion innovation with A groundbreaking research programme into digital fashion.

With our events & venues reaching capacities and selling out entirely for years, struggling for Space, Seats and FROWS, and Designers looking to explore new Skills and Markets post-Brexit & Pandemic, SRD has been at the forefront of research and development. 2023 saw us exploring new ways to reach audiences globally. Post-Brexit and post-pandemic, designers sought new skills and markets, and SRD responded with a pioneering initiative focused on our core Pillars of Technology, Equity and Sustainability.

In 2023, we designed and installed a Virtual Exhibition Hall at V&A Dundee, to create and use spaces differently within the physical building. We reimagined the museum while collaborating with 12 Scottish designers to create fully digital collections, exhibitions, and runways. This ongoing work, titled HIDDEN FLOORS, showcases the transformative power of technology in fashion.

Technology's evolution reshaped the landscape, from 3G's birth of social media to 4G's e-commerce boom. Now, enter 5G—the billion-fold leap that empowers unprecedented creativity, production, and innovation. With the potential to transform studios into incubators of ingenuity and factories into engines of growth, we're embarking on a journey that promises a new dawn for fashion.

The participating Designers were fully funded by SRD to collaborate.

Background:

SRD’s journey into digital fashion began in 2021 with Fashion Interrupted, a pilot project that paved the way for a digital fashion festival in collaboration with Dundee’s INGAME. We also partnered with Applied Arts Scotland’s DISTANCE project and Lateral North, developing digital textures and exhibitions.

That same year, SRD launched its first digital fashion experiment at V&A Dundee, integrating virtual models into exhibition spaces and sparking curiosity across industries. With Dundee’s status as a UNESCO City of Design and a thriving gaming hub, SRD sought to bridge fashion and gaming, fostering collaboration and innovation.

In 2023, four Dundee-based fashion and textile businesses worked alongside past grant recipients and partners, experimenting with virtual clothing and exploring commercial opportunities in digital fashion. Using 5G and Oculus technology, they connected studios to the global market, leveraging Dundee’s renowned gaming industry.

This initiative, in partnership with V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, The Scotland 5G Centre, and Tay 5G, continues to redefine fashion by integrating digital technology into museum exhibitions, events, and business expansion.

We would like to thank UNESCO City of Design: Dundee, Shelter Scotland, The Scotland 5G Centre, Dundee City Council, Tay Cities Region Deal, and V&A Dundee for their support #SRD23 #designdundee #ShelterScotland #vadundee

SRD Fashion Salon at V&A Dundee

A glitzy night with scotlands FASHIONISTAS!

Guests saw work from over 20 of Scotland’s top Fashion Designers and Makers.

We welcomed forward-thinking fashion lovers with a passion for sustainability, equity, or technology in the fashion industry.

SRD's Scottish Fashion Festival Opening Gala embarked on an intimate journey, featuring a smaller show that offered a spotlight to exceptional designers. At this exclusive event, designers did more than showcase their creations; they also shared the stories, inspirations, and unique perspectives behind each of their designs. A rare chance to see a collection in a more in-depth and personal way, and guests could also visit the unique HIDDEN FLOORS Exhibition Installation & Interpretation with a further cohort of over 12 designers including:

From Dundee: Megan Mackay from Little Peril Studio, Ruby Coyne from Dreamland, Sam Paton from Isolated Heroes, and Jolene Guthrie from Jo-AMI

From Applied Arts Scotland: Dr. Lynne Hocking-Mennie, Steve Colmer from Lateral North, Aubin Stewart, Carrie Fertig, Ann Marie Shillito, and Maija Nygren

From Fashion Interrupted: Ciorstaidh Monk, Gillian Martin, Madeleine Brown and Emma Clifton

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BRANDS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE SR:D 2022 FASHION FESTIVAL AND RUNWAY

Shelter Scotland (Isla Gibb / Jayne Stephen / Katrina Lindsay / Lauren Malcolm / Rory Houlihan / Solenn Alvarez / Samantha Campbell / Vevar), Ayton Clothing, Ava Gourlay Knits, Isolated Heroes, Kirsteen Stewart, Little Peril,

We would like to thank UNESCO City of Design: Dundee, Shelter Scotland, The Scotland 5G Centre, Dundee City Council, Tay Cities Region Deal, and V&A Dundee for their support #SRD23 #designdundee #ShelterScotland #vadundee

Shelter Scotland x Scottish Fashion Festival

Fashion For Social Change Award 2023

Organised by Scotland Re:Design #SRD23

For the second year, we are pleased to have had another fabulous cohort participate in our Shelter Scotland design competition. 2022 was the first year we partnered with Shelter Scotland on this competition and it was a huge success. The final designs had a wide array of influences and approaches.

Designers participating this year had access to all Shelter Scotland stock and fabrics to create their winning Looks for the Runway at V&A Dundee, as Shelter Scotland is such a fashion forward organisation working in sustainable style with partners including Vivienne Westwood and AllSaints, plus Graduate Fashion Week. SRD is thrilled to create and forge this unique opportunity for Scottish fashion to develop work in the not for profit sector network, centred around two of core pillars of equity and sustainability.

We were blown away again this year with the winning designs which took to the runway at V&A Dundee on Friday 17th November 2023. Designs were created by the following winners:

Isla Gibb / Jayne Stephen / Katrina Lindsay / Lauren Malcolm / Rory Houlihan / Solenn Alvarez / Samantha Campbell / Vevar

Who are Shelter Scotland?

They exist to defend the right to a safe home and fight the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and society. They believe that home is everything. In 2021 Shelter Scotland updated their brand to reflect their core proposition: ‘We exist to defend the right to a safe home’. Their brand provides us with the tools to be positively disruptive, vocal and iconic and is inspired by the spirit of activism.

Inspired by the visual language of protest and the grassroots movement they came from; their symbol is handmade from red paint brush strokes. they use the paint brush effect to emphasise and amplify important messaging, and to add extra meaning.

What is the competition?

The Designers will seek to develop and create fashion around the theme of 'activism' for housing rights. Start a conversation, share stories, educate people. Our objective is to use the most powerful designs in a catwalk show that demonstrates the power of fashion.

We asked Designers to research the issues, use personal experiences and talk to friends. How can you use fashion as a vehicle to educate and drive positive change in society? Also, how do you integrate sustainable thinking into your idea?  This is a key element to consider with your proposal/entry. Extending the life of clothes and minimising waste is critical if we are to be pro planet in our society.

Eight winners have now been selected, and they are currently hard at work creating their looks. We asked them to develop and create fashion around the theme of 'activism' for housing rights. Start a conversation, share stories, educate people. The objective is to use the most powerful designs in a catwalk show that demonstrates the power of fashion. Each designer will create a full runway-ready look exploring the themes outlined in the design brief.

The designers have been asked to research the issues, use personal experiences, and talk to friends. How can they use fashion as a vehicle to educate and drive positive change in society? Also, how do they integrate sustainable thinking into their idea? Extending the life of clothes and minimizing waste is critical if we are to be pro-planet in our society.

We would like to thank UNESCO City of Design: Dundee, Shelter Scotland, The Scotland 5G Centre, Dundee City Council, Tay Cities Region Deal, and V&A Dundee for their support #SRD23 #designdundee #ShelterScotland #vadundee

 SR:D Awards: A Celebration of Innovation and Sustainability in Fashion & Textiles

The SR:D Awards brought together visionaries in fashion and textiles to celebrate innovation and sustainability. Presented in collaboration with our esteemed sponsor, UNESCO City of Design Dundee, these awards recognised creativity, change-making, and environmental stewardship. Read on for a recap of this prestigious event and the outstanding contributions celebrated.

About the SR:D Awards

The SR:D Awards honoured exceptional contributions to the fashion and textiles industry in two distinguished categories:

SR:D Award for Sustainability

Sponsored by UNESCO City of Design Dundee, this award recognised individuals, brands, and companies that exemplified sustainability as a core value in their work. The award celebrated those leading the way in eco-conscious fashion and textiles, reducing environmental impact, conserving resources, and promoting ethical practices.

SR:D Award for Innovation in Fashion & Textiles

Also proudly sponsored by UNESCO City of Design Dundee, this award paid tribute to trailblazers who redefined industry boundaries. From visionary individuals to groundbreaking research projects, this category applauded those who introduced novel ideas and harnessed innovation as a catalyst for positive change.

Winner Benefits

Award winners received more than just recognition—they gained a valuable boost to their projects and initiatives. Each recipient was granted a financial endorsement of £250 to invest in their business or project's growth. This grant supported activities such as enhancing brand identity with a graphic designer, improving digital presence with a web designer, or receiving mentorship from a seasoned business advisor. More than just an award, it served as a stepping stone toward lasting success and innovation.

Honouring Excellence and Positive Change

The SR:D Awards, made possible by our valued sponsor UNESCO City of Design Dundee, stood as a testament to the transformative power of innovation and sustainability. By recognising and supporting forward-thinking individuals and businesses, the event helped inspire positive change and elevate the fashion and textiles industry.

We are proud to have celebrated the talent and dedication of those shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and eco-conscious future for fashion and textiles. Thank you to everyone who joined us on this inspiring journey!