Archives: News

Head over to the Sustainable Studio from now till 31st January 2025 to view our Ffasiwn Exhibition curated by Jukebox Academy students. Guided by the mentorship of Charlotte James and Sharon Kostini, and produced by Jukebox Collective.

This exhibition marks the culmination of our collaboration with Bleak Fabulous. Since 2021, Bleak Fabulous and Jukebox Collective have collaborated to explore Welsh heritage in a contemporary context, encouraging a modern exploration of Welsh pride and identity.

Welsh national dress emerged in the nineteenth century, responding to a surge of interest in the increased use of the Welsh language and the desire to create a sartorial identity. It consists of a red woollen cloak, a paisley shawl, Pais a Betgwn, a petticoat-like skirt, Betgwn, a white classically woollen bedgown, and a tall black hat.

Charlotte James and Clémentine Schneidermann were particularly inspired by the Welsh Hat and used the piece of national iconography as the project’s base. Collaborating with Welsh costume designer Ffian Jones, the Jukebox Academy students engaged in a hat creation workshop, modernising the traditional garb by imbuing it with their unique creative flares and identities.

Aside from hat-making, the programme included a variety of workshops in costume design, styling, photography, illustration, art direction, and image production, with students being immersed in the creative process from beginning to end. Participants learned new creative skills such as moodboarding, styling, customisation, and art direction, examining Welsh cultural iconography, and leveraging their heritage as a form of expression.

Schneidermann photographed the finished outfits in Butetown and Cardiff Bay, while James oversaw the creative direction. The images produced reflect the playful nature of the participants’ exploration of self. The rich colour set against the eminent, supple greys and whites of Welsh homes encapsulates the essence of Bleak Fabulous, which can serve as a metaphor for the Welsh identity: vivacious, bold, and full of life against its post-industrialised past and emerging present.

On December 15, we launched our collaborative editorial series and ffasiwn zine with Bleak Fabulous (Clémentine Schneidermann & Charlotte James), featuring Jukebox Academy.

The event, held at The Sustainable Studio in Cardiff, brought together students, their families and friends, and representatives of the creative industry in Wales. Guests were invited to view the photography from the project and take home a copy of the limited-edition zine.

Produced by Jukebox Collective, the event included a photography exhibition curated by Jukebox Academy students. Guided by the mentorship of Charlotte James and Sharon Kostini, the students participated in a curation workshop, selecting the layout, sequence, and images for the exhibition themselves.

The afternoon began with the arrival of students, along with their families and friends, welcomed with arrival drinks, music by DJ Treu Beatz, and bespoke desserts from Cake That Cardiff, inspired by the project’s themes. Students were also gifted with custom-made t-shirts featuring their drawings of photographs from the project.

In the evening, we invited guests from the arts community, including Arts Council Wales, Welsh National Opera, KLAT magazine, and Chapter Arts Centre. Including artists such as director Daisy Brown, photographer Pierre Gashagaza and curator Melissa Hinkin. Attendees were gifted copies of the zine and a selection of postcards featuring the project’s imagery.

This launch event marked the culmination of our collaboration with Bleak Fabulous. In 2021, Charlotte James and Clémentine Schneidermann began leading a series of creative workshops with students from Jukebox Academy. The students explored Welsh pride and identity through sessions on costume design, styling, photography, illustration, and art direction. These workshops helped them develop creative skills like moodboarding, styling, and customisation, using their heritage as inspiration for their expression.

The finished looks were photographed by Schneidermann in Butetown and Cardiff Bay, with creative direction by Charlotte James. The images reflect the students’ playful self-exploration, blending social documentary, fashion, and formal portraiture.

Guests at the launch also enjoyed an intimate projection of the behind-the-scenes footage of the project, getting a closer look at the creative journey.

Read more about the project here

We’d like to thank the creatives and local businesses who helped make the event possible, including Sharon Kostini, Tom Swindell, Grace Springer, Claire Huss, and Ice Cream Embroidery. Special thanks to our team, Liara Barusi, Lauren Patterson, Samandal Sidig, Darnell Williams, and Tarina Tajul.