Taking Up Space: UK Fashion Collective Joins Forces to Spotlight Black-Owned, Sustainable Brands in Mayfair, London
This Black History Month, the pioneering founders of The Fashion Blueprint and SwapNation present Taking Up Space – a cultural event spotlighting the best of Black-owned, sustainable
Hosted at Known Source’s store in Mayfair, London, the pop-up will feature vintage designer brands, a swap shop, upcycled pieces, fashion rental and an edit of Black-owned brands exclusively curated by Ndaane. From workshops, to panel conversations and social mixers, expect a vibrant weekend where those who have historically been excluded from the sustainable fashion conversation are reclaiming the narrative and taking ownership over how they’re portrayed.
The mission behind the event is to unite underrepresented companies in the form of a cultural reset. The event programme blends style, education and joy to challenge consumption habits while celebrating heritage. More than a fashion showcase, Taking Up Space is a cultural reset.
The event will bring together more than 1,000 guests from sustainable fashion enthusiasts, to media, brands and industry insiders, making it one of the most anticipated moments in the UK’s Black History Month calendar.
“Black voices have often been excluded from sustainability conversations, despite being at the forefront of tackling textile waste colonialism, through creative resourcefulness and style innovation for generations,” says Giovanna Vieira Co, founder of The Fashion Blueprint.
“This event is about reclaiming that narrative, celebrating our contribution and shaping the future of fashion together,” adds Montana Marshall, founder of SwapNation.
Date: 25–26 October 2025
Time: 11am–7pm
Location: Known Source, 35 Brook Street, London W1K 4HQ
Programme Highlights
- Marketplace and Brand Showcases: A curated selection of Black-owned sustainable fashion brands across rental, upcycling and vintage secondhand.
SwapNation Zone: London’s biggest swap shop, curated with contemporary and designer pieces. - Panels and Workshops: Discussions on heritage, identity and the future of sustainable fashion, alongside hands-on upcycling and repair sessions.
- Culture and Community: Experiences designed to connect people through shared heritage and joy – from a documentary screening to DJ sets and social mixers.
About the organisers
Taking Up Space is co-produced by SwapNation, The Fashion Blueprint, Ndaane and Known Source, with collaborators including a growing line-up of Black-owned sustainable fashion brands, cultural collectives and media partners.
An innovation and sustainability hub on a mission to combat textile waste colonialism and redefine the fashion industry. By combining community engagement, industry expertise, and technology-driven solutions, TFB helps brands and organisations implement circular practices, innovate responsibly, and create lasting impact. Founded by Giovanna Vieira Co, ex Selfridges, Louis Vuitton and GANNI, TFB is not here to please the status quo – they’re here to rewrite the rules.
SwapNation is a community driven movement tackling fashion waste by making swapping the new normal. Through curated pop up events, partnerships, and a unique token based system, SwapNation transforms the way people access style with an affordable, sustainable, and joy filled alternative to buying new. Founded by Montana Marshall and featured in BBC, Stylist Magazine, and Refinery29, SwapNation champions secondhand culture as both a lifestyle and a movement. At every event you will find high street staples, vintage gems, sustainable labels, and handmade pieces, all kept in circulation and out of landfill.
A platform and consultancy cultivating space for underrepresented voices in the global fashion discourse, with a focus on Africa. Through curated content and partnerships, we shine a light on the work of conscious changemakers and empower them to navigate and reshape the competitive fashion landscape. Founded by Stéphanie Chendjou, a luxury fashion and technology professional, NDAANE serves as both a resource and catalyst for fashion enthusiasts, creatives, and experts who see fashion as a platform for culture, innovation, and change. As we enter our next chapter, we’re deepening our commitment to the changemakers redefining global fashion.
Known Source is a collective of second hand specialist “dealers”, curating the best in fashion with love and expertise. We are a growing community, an ecosystem of the best minds all determined to solve the oversaturation that is rife in the industry. Founded by Theo El-Kattan and Henry McNeill-Njoku, Known Source is full of the best products out there – from people who seriously know their stuff. Each product is unique and has been selected with care by our dealers, through their distinctive lens. We exist to shine a light on archive clothing through curation, true circularity, community and storytelling.
