artwork by Kiran Patel/Illustrating Rain

Wayne Hemingway

Wayne Hemingway is a British fashion designer with a degree in Geography and Town Planning from UCL. After selling his and his (now) wife, Geraldine’s clothes to fund a band; Wayne and Geraldine built the Red or Dead fashion label selling Geraldines hand-made clothes and his own designs and established shops over the UK and the US. The Red or Dead label won the prestigious British Fashion Councils Streetstyle Designer of the Year Award for 3 years in a row 1996, 1997 and 1998.

In 1999, having sold Red or Dead they set up HemingwayDesign, which specializes in affordable and social design. Involved in the building projects such as The Staiths South Bank Project, HemingwayDesign are currently working with McDonald’s on a long term sustainability project, and is now a multi-disciplinary design agency led by two generations of the Hemingway family and a wider team of talented designers.

An extremely busy and important man, Waye received an MBE in June 2006; is a Professor in The Built Environment Department of Northumbria University, a Doctor of Design at Wolverhampton, Lancaster and Stafford and a Fellow of Blackburn. He also writes for architectural and housing publications as well as being a judge of international design competitions. He is also the Chairman of Building for Life, Chair of the South Coast Design Forum and on the Design Council Trustee Board and the Design Council CABE Committee. On top of all this he also gives talks on housing, urban design, education and the creative sector and is a host of creative industries related awards events! He does a bit of charity work for the likes of Noise Festival, The Princes Trust, Shelter, Oxfam and Traid,  has a massive vinyl collection, loves his family and Blackburn Rovers!

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?

WH: The future I choose is fitter, healthier, happier, less greedy, more liveable, more equal and beautifully designed.

Wayne Hemminway's Future illustrated by Natalia Nazimek

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

WH: The think that inspired me to want to create that future is having spent 30 years in the creative industries and knowing what design can do, and what clever thinking can do. I suppose what we strive for as designers and especially the urban design I do is to create happier places and you know if people are happier they behave better, and that if things are more equal you get less crime… its just common sense really, its all inspired by common sense.

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose?

WH: Well.. in a perfect world, people that care would do things about the environment around them, and the simplest way of doing that is to become an elected member of your local council. If you look at some of the more progressive countries in Europe, the Scandinavian countries especially, you’ll find elected councillors in their 20s and 30s who are representing that generation. If you go to a lot of towns in the UK you’ll find the average age of a lot of the council that are supposedly representing the whole of their community and making decisions on our behalf can be in their late 60s and 70. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with old people but you can’t expect all 60 and 70 year olds to totally understand what a 15 year old or a 20 year old wants out of the future. So we can only make that difference; you know… I’m 51 and I would still be considered a young council member in this country and I’m not young.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

WH: Well there are loads of things we can support to make a better future.

One is to work with communities like the London recycling network and make sure that nothing goes to waste.

Another is to work with long standing charities like Oxfam who have proven over decades the value that they can achieve on behalf of society.

Or to follow quirky little initiatives like the Uniform Project where this young lass called sheena decided she was going to wear the one little black dress for 365 days and style it up a different way every day. It shows what can be done with creativity. It was a happy project, it was an intelligent project, it was a creative project, and it was a sustainable project all rolled into one.

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

WH: I suppose my favourite long-term song, one that always makes me feel good every time I hear it is Roy Ayers- Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which is a 1970s soul track, bit of a hippy vibe going on with the words but if you listen to those words it’s a very uplifting track.

?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?

WH:

BBC - I could make all my five from this ..its great for news , great for sport , my first port of call for weather and the 6 Music website my first port of call for podcasts.

But I could add  www.discogs.com where I research the history of music for our Vintage festival and add to my vinyl collection …and you know what? Keeping vinyl in circulation is sustainable!

Ebay: As a collector Ebay has been a godsend …I look on it daily for stuff for our museum The Land of Lost Content in Craven Arms , Shropshire.

Facebook.com/vintagefestival – the vintage community are always vibrant.

Designcouncil.org.uk ..always a good place to start to show businesses  how investing in design can really pay off.

We will soon be publishing a video version of this interview – look out for it. 

Follow Wayne on Twitter @HemingwayDesign

How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.

Love the Futures Interviews? Help Create Our Collaborative Book - The Futures Project (donate or get involved!)

You may have caught some of our posts on the amazing one off pieces created for Think Act Vote Refashioned.  Just in case you have missed one, we have put them all together for you here to get inspired and get creative.

The challenge – each designer was given one of our ?!X t-shirts sponsored by the wonderful Komodo, and told to create something in a week using just fabric left over in their workshop.

Here each designer shares with us The Future That They Choose and the inspiration behind their creations.

Just click on designer’s name or the image to read their Think Act Vote Refashioned story in full.

Ciel: ‘I wanted to create something that didn’t need a sewing machine and which anyone with a good pair of fabric scissors could re-create.’ – Sarah Ratty

Customisation Created by Ciel for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; T-shirt and Scarf by Ciel; Skirt by Lu Flux; Shoes by Terra Plana Necklace; Bangles by Amisha Elegance Rebellion

Junky Styling’s inspiration for the dress they created for Think Act Vote was ‘To transform something simple and a bit masculine into something flirty and feminine.’

Show Piece Created by Junky Styling for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Dress by Junky Styling; Necklace by Amisha Elegance Rebellion; Shoes by Terra Plana

TRAIDremade created an asymmetric look and combined the Think Act Vote tee with stretch jersey.

Show Piece Created by Traid Remade for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Dress by Traid Remade; Leggings by Ivana Helsinki; Shoes by Terra Plana

You can make your own TRAID refashioned Think Act Vote t-shirt. Here’s a DIY customization step by step process.

Tara Starlet did two pieces for the campaign, a simple customisation of t-shirt to playsuit and a special signature Tara Starlet Dress.

Tara Starlet Customisation T-shirt to Playsuit. Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Playsuit by Tara Starlet; Hat by Pachacucuti

Tara Starlet Signature Dress: Photography by Dominic; Clarke Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Dress by Tara starlet; Bangles by Amisha Elegance Rebellion

Ada Zandition created this beautiful dress to support the Think Act Vote campaign, a tribute to Malcom McLaren.

Ada Zandition creation; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Dress by Ada Zanditon; Shoes by Beyond Skin; Ring & Head Accessory by Amisha Elegance Rebellion

Beautiful Soul have captured their signature style, but have also added a playful twist, keeping with the refreshing message of  Think.Act.Vote.

Showpiece Created by Beautiful Soul for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Complete Look By Nicola Woods, Beautiful Soul

Nancy Dee combined a cute mini-dress with a contrasting T-shirt top reflecting their colourful and retro style.

Photography by Dominic Clarke Ethically Styled by Io Takemura Dress by Nancy Dee Scarf by Tamasyn Gambell

Miksani created a t-shirt with the fringes down the front, back and shoulders for the Think Act Vote campaign.

Photography: Dominic Clarke. Stylist: Io Takemura. T-shirt: Miksani. JAcket: Junky Styling. Trousers: Ada Zanditon

Designer Sury Bagenal gave the Think Act Vote t-shirt a fresh makeover, showing us how.

Customized Think Act Vote T-shirt into a Summer Vest

You can see more photos of the Think Act Vote Refashioned Shoot Here. The pieces have been a massive hit in the Think Act Vote photobooths – you can see photos of them in action here and find out when the next photobooth is here.

Customized your Think Act Vote Tee? Send us your photos and we will feature you on our website! E-mail to info@thinkactvote.org

Coming to Vintage At Goodwood? You can take part in one of our workshops and make your very own Think Act Vote Refashioned piece with the help of expert seam-stresses!

To check what Think Act Vote has been doing in the past few months and be a part of this exciting campaign find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Tell us What Future Do You Choose and get a chance to feature in our book!

Customisation Created by Traid Remade for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; T-shirt and belt by Traid Remade; Trousers by Ivana Helsinki; Shoes by Beyond Skin

Here is an easy step by step DIY customization process.

Traid Remade customisation step 1

Traid Remade customisation step 5

And this is what the end result looks like as styled by Io Takemura for Think Act Vote.

Customisation Created by Traid Remade for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; T-shirt and belt by Traid Remade; Trousers by Ivana Helsinki; Shoes by Beyond Skin

TRAID customization was a sensation at the Think Act Vote photobooths and the Alternative fashion week at Spitalfields.

Think Act Vote Photobooth at The Rag Factory - Photography by Deepti V. Patel

Think Act Vote Photobooth at The Rag Factory - Photography by Deepti V. Patel

Think Act Vote Photobooth at The Rag Factory - Photography by Deepti V. Patel

Alternative Fashion Week - Spitalfields, Photography by Poulomi Basu

Read about the TRAID Remade one off dress made especially for Think Act Vote and meet the team at TRAIDremade.

Tell us What Future Do You Choose and get a chance to feature in our book!

TRAID says ‘you can’t take part if you don’t take part’

‘TRAIDremade refashions the future into one that is populated by people, not consumers.  A future where people are interested in how our clothes be so cheap, a future where people think about the conditions in which our clothes and other products are made.  How much are workers getting paid?  Can they afford to eat?  Is there a toilet?  Can their kids afford to go to school?  In this future, TRAID don’t just offer an ethical alternative to the clothes industry, we are the clothes industry!’ – TRAID

The designer - Paula Kirkwood

TRAIDremade specialises in turning damaged textiles, vintage and clothing destined for landfill into gorgeous clothes and accessories.  Set up in 2002 by fashion recycling charity TRAID, the label was conceived as a way to create beautiful clothing from waste and offers people who love fashion but hate its impact an alternative and sustainable way to buy clothes.  As well as sporting an extremely small fashion footprint, all the proceeds raised are used by TRAID to support projects fighting global poverty.  www.traid.org.uk / http://www.traidremade.com

Show Piece Created by Traid Remade for Think Act Vote; Photography by Dominic Clarke; Ethically Styled by Io Takemura; Dress by Traid Remade; Leggings by Ivana Helsinki; Shoes by Terra Plana

‘I started the design process in exactly the same way that I would with our in house pieces:  looking at current trends and then choosing which fabrics and clothes to rework that have been collected for me by the TRAID team.  All the textiles TRAIDremade work with are donated by the public to TRAID but can’t be resold in our much loved charity shops due to faults or damage.’

For this particular design, I created an asymmetric look and combined it with stretch jersey.  The jersey was taken from five shop soiled sweaters.  I took apart each one and then re-stitched the panels together to create a piece of fabric to cut a pattern from.   Finally, the front panel of the dress was created by incorporating the ‘THINK, ACT, VOTE’ Tee.’ – Paula Kirkwood

Think Act Vote Photobooth at The Rag Factory - Ethical Just Got Fabulous, Photography by Deepti V. Patel

Photography by Pip Dudrah, Photos taken at The Rag Factory

Photography by Pip Dudrah, Photos taken at The Rag Factory

The CAMP London, Photography by Vanya Sacha - http://www.vanyasacha.com

The Alternative Fashion Week at Spitalfields, Photography by Poulomi Basu

‘The future I choose is one where people feel inspired and able to create a more sustainable world.’ – Lyla Patel

Tell us What Future Do You Choose and get a chance to feature in our book!

TRAID Remade shows us how to customise a t-shirt into a cool and original top using some old zips!