In April we ran a blog on BCUs exciting partnership with Birmingham Botanical Gardens looking ahead to the summer and a joint exhibition. 'Fashion in Nature: Aesthetics and Activism' was developed by first year students on BCU’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design programme. As the exhibition comes to an end BCU's Content and Communications Officer, Nick Milton, interviewed Jen Ridding, Head of Engagement & Learning at BBG, about the exhibition and asked her what next for the partnership.
Earlier this year BBG announced an ambitious new business plan to restore and expand the Gardens. How has it gone?
We have had a really positive summer season including a very successful National Heritage Lottery Fund bid to support our major capital project to preserve and modernise the Gardens. Visitor numbers are growing, no doubt helped by the warm and dry summer weather we have been having! Thanks to the new business plan there is growing awareness about the many events, facilities and benefits which visiting the Gardens and membership brings from great artisan foods and venue hire to picnicking and attending film shows.
How has BCUs exhibition 'Fashion in Nature: Aesthetics and Activism' gone down with your visitors?
The exhibition has been a big success and has been a real highlight of the summer and of the BCU partnership. It has challenged people to think about the links between nature and fashion, particularly the use of artificial dyes in their clothes. Over 90% of our clothes are manufactured using artificial dyes which are bad for both the environment and the climate so using natural dyes like the ones shown in the exhibition is the way forward. It has also encouraged BCUs Fashion students to take a position on an important issue which has not had much exposure and to become activists for natural, sustainable alternatives. The exhibition ends on Sunday 28 September so if you want to see it you still have a month left.
Do you think fashion has been slow to confront its social and environmental impact? And is a new labelling scheme now needed?
Fashion is multi-million-pound industry in the UK but most of us are completely unaware of where clothes are made or how they are manufactured. BCUs exhibition has really helped to drive awareness of issues like the use of artificial dyes and textile waste. The dyes are used to create the multitude of colours demanded by the fashion industry are manufactured using crude oil and toxic chemicals. Natural alternatives are now readily available, but the main challenge is scalability. That is where activism comes in - for the industry to change it will need brands, fashion houses and designers to feel pressure from their customers. A labelling scheme would certainly help to drive that change as it would make us all more aware of the social and environmental impact of our clothes.
What next for the partnership?
We are working with BCU on a very exciting new project to designing and build a brand new garden at BBG called the Physic Garden. It takes its inspiration from medieval gardens like those attached to monasteries where many plants were grown for their medicinal and healing properties. In July we collaborated with BCU students studying architecture, fine art, jewellery and interior design on a multi-disciplinary Design Hack to generate brilliant blue-sky ideas for the new garden. It will be launched soon so watch this space!
Are there any other projects in the pipeline?
Yes, we are working with Dr Jieling Xiao, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at BCU, to develop a pilot Project in 2025-26 called Pollicity. It's a really ambitious project which aims to create a city planning and design process that integrates pollinators as well as people. The project will focus on one of the key challenges facing pollinators in locating and identifying flowers in urban areas which is the stability of scents as they are heavily impacted by air pollution and climate change. Looking at local microclimate, urban blocks, human habitation, and plant profiles in Birmingham, Pollicity will design scent-resilient micro-habitats and be used as a basis to rethink the design of city centres. The project is also working with the designer-researcher Eliza Collin who has developed the Hybridising Scentscapes exhibition at the Design Museum, London so its a really unique partnership. We also have a free drop-in event called Healing Scents taking place at the Gardens on 8 November. Jieling and artist Kaye Winwood will be sharing plants, scents and remedies and there’s the chance to create your own healing remedy.
The first year of the Strategic Learning Partnership between BCU and BBG has just come to a close. Are there plans to extend the partnership to a second year?
Yes, it’s been a really positive first year, thanks to everyone at BCU who has contributed to its success. A second year is being negotiated at the moment. When it is finalised, we will make an official announcement.
The BCU exhibition 'Fashion in Nature: Aesthetics and Activism' runs at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens until Sunday 28 September. Entrance is free for BCU students and staff.
