This autumn brings a fantastic variety of UK events celebrating and showcasing the creative industries. As well as London Design Festival in September, there’s also the British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent. October brings the Design Council’s annual festival Design For Planet and the British Textile Biennial. Make sure you support your local craft scene!
Sessions Arts Club is a restaurant and performance space run by creative director Jonny Gent housed in what was once a judges’ dining room in Sessions House. This former court in east London has become an unofficial HQ for Clerkenwell’s creative community since it opened in 2021. And what does every club need but a uniform? Now designer Faye Toogood has created one for Sessions. Toogood works in interior design, homewares, fine art and fashion. For this project she hand painted abstracts inspired by the landscape around Boath House, Gent’s Scottish Highlands hotel. As well as decorating a dress and shirt – classics from Toogood’s clothing range – for staff members, Toogood’s design covers a decorative curtain in the dining room and features on the menu.
“There’s nothing prescribed about what Jonny does,” says Toogood. “Sessions is one of the most creative places in London. Once you’re through the red front door and up the winding staircase, you escape into an otherworldly space. The word uniform feels a little stodgy for Jonny’s gang. I wanted to make them clothes to add to their own dressing-up-box. I’m inviting each individual to express something about who they are.”
Spirit of Eden by Toogood is at Sessions Arts Club from this month. Shirts and dresses will be available to buy
