BIODEEPMAP / BIOREGION LAB Bergen Norway June - Present 2024
Ongoing research project with BioRegion whereby artists and designers have been selected to work with ancient bio resources and new technology for future material manipulation over a 8 month period - with several exhibitions scheduled for 2024 in Norway & UK
SUSTAINABLE ANGLE INNOVATION HUB - London UK JUNE 26-27th, 2023
“Contemporary Hempery” collaboration with MLH studio for the “Hemp Collier” exhibited in the Sustainable Angle Innovations Hub. By combining waste metal (Nitrous oxide) from the streets of East London with freshly grown and locally sourced hemp - the phytoremediation qualities of hemp are brought into focus. Hemp is a crop that can clean the soil of heavy metals as well as be woven into fabric and transformed into jewelry.
NOS BOX Installation / London UK March 16th - 27th 2023
NOS BOX installation March 16th inaugurated by Mayor Lutfur Rahman in partnership with Tower Hamlets , Darul Ummah Care House and UAL. NOS BOX was installed with the purpose of recycling nitrous oxide canisters - to help prevent littering of used canisters in the streets and to highlight awareness of nitrous oxide pollution with youth “making” workshops. NOS BOX was featured in SKY NEWS coinciding with UK PM Sunak’s declaration of combatting nitrous oxide usage and a presenting a laughing gas ban. Tragically the NOS BOX was vandalised on March 27th the same day this was announced
TOSS YOUR NOS & NOS BOX - CSM Bio Design Graduating Collection- London June 2022
TOSS YOUR NOS and NOS BOX graduating project was a research project around the problem of nitrous oxide waste in east London. By designing a circular system of COLLECTION - COLLABORATION & COMMUNITY AWARENESS - CREATION - CULTURAL DISSEMINATION to experimenting with changing the surface of the cannisters for re-use - inventing a dowel system for building insect hotels - designing panels for construction or making jewelry. After receiving a grant from Tower Hamlets - Michelle collaborated with Jamiatul Ummah School & Darul Ummah Masjid , communications team Edzai&Cam to create a “TOSS YOUR NOS” campaign and MA Furniture design student Peter Nasielski to build a “NOS BOX” as the first step in implementing COLLECTION of the circular system. NOS BOX was installed March 2023 in Tower Hamlets https://www.tossyournos.com/ Final Project Video is here https://vimeo.com/719601977utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749
ReGo Project - London UK Jan - June 2022
ReGo Project led by Dr.Francesco Mazzarella in collaboration with KnifeSafe, CSF , Catalyst in Communities and The Lab is a multi prong project - providing opportunities for young people to gain new skills and build employability, as well as utilising fashion activism against knife crime. MLH was one of the collaborating designers that worked with ReGo & Knifesafe by transforming knives from local streets into jewellry. Exhibited from May 28-June 5th at The Lab “ReGo our Story in the Making” the pieces were also styled, photographed and modelled by the participants. Showcased in billboards across East London in June by Jack of BuildHollywood, LCF recently hosted an exhibition Oct 2022, Knife jewelry pieces are currently available to rent to wear via Loanhood. See video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USAKwllvp3M
Jamiatul Ummah School NOS Workshops - East London March - May 2022
As part of of the NOS BOX project and TOSS YOUR NOS campaign - A series of workshops were given to east London boys school on nitrous oxide, littering and the health dangers. Darul Ummah Masjid and care center will be hosting the first NOS BOX in east London. The box is due for installation in Dec 2022
Fashion Revolution & ReGo Workshop - London UK April 21 2022
Fashion Revolution & ReGo & The Lab - “Crafting Jewelry” workshop. Learning how to recycle your fabrics and textiles into unique and personal cuffs by hand crafting and sewing.
UAL “Grayson Robes 2022” Finalists March 28th 2022
Each year a competition is held to design the robes for Grayson Perry - UAL Chancellor and artist. The robe is designed and worn for graduation ceremony. Over 60 creations were submitted for 2022 with design group from MA BIO Design students - Michelle Lowe-Holder (accessories) Celine Camboni (dress) Saumya Singh (bio leather) and BA Jewelry student Molly Preston (studio assistant) - chosen in the final 5. Concepts were presented in to Grayson on March 28th in person. Congratulations to Li who went on to create a “robe” for Grayson !! Video is here - https://www.youtube.com/watchv=kSvdXUwzO0c&list=PLEejZG4jtr9kEaIa2msFM1YIpP1BVS0Nx
Fashion Revolution Open Studio Workshop - London UK April 25th 2021
Fashion Revolution Open Studio Digital Workshop - “Crafting a Collier” with upcycled textiles. The colliers were made and produced into a mini collection and auctioned by donation thru Action Aid - £700.00 pounds were raised for women and girls living in poverty .
Workshop video is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcPeNT7ZkG0&list=RDCMUC0JS74vyisaHej_xEq_zZ1w&start_radio=1&t=9s
MABIO GROUP PROJECT "Cassiopeia" Residency Winners March 2021
The "Cassiopeia" Project was designed by MABIO students Alex Huller, Eva Pujol, Michelle Lowe-Holder, Jasper Zehetgruber and Jiayu Flora Yang. Conceptualised as a 5 year plan - the idea was to create the first Maldives pearl farm , create a community centre and collaborate with “Prescious Plastic” to utilise current plastic waste. Recyled plastic building modules and jewelry were conceived to provide alternative incomes. Pearl pieces were designed to transfer existing craft skills and provide employment to communities that have lost work due to overfishing. Pearl oysters have the ability to remediate and clean oceans from micro plastic. The pieces were presented to NGO “Eco Organisation“of the Maldives and Cassiopeia Project was awarded a residency in the Maldives. The pearl collection designed by Michelle Lowe-Holder was featured in “Iconic Magazine” Jan 2022 and exhibited at “Sustainable Angle” Innovation Hub June 2022 “Cassiopeia Pearl Farm” Video here- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hE4CP00ayiE
Fashion Revolution Open Studio Workshop - London UK April 20th 2020
Fashion Revolution Open Studio ISKO Denim Day - Digital workshop with the making of an origami cuff with denim cut offs. The cuffs were made and produced into a mini collection and auctioned by donation only thru Action Aid Bangladesh - £550.00 pounds were raised for women and girls in poverty living with Covid-19.
Workshop video is here - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6u_Vp_NsxTo
The Sustainable Angle INNOVATION HUB - London ,UK Jan 29/30, 2020
MLH Bio-Plastic Jewelry “Wedgewood” series in collaboration with The Sustainable Sequin Company and Bangor University. MLH cuffs and clutch exhibited - created from newly developed matte bio polymer non oil based plastic that is both machine washable and bio degradable. Presenting the first samples - shine and additional colours are currently being developed.
Museum Prinsenhof Delft “ Golden Age” Project, Holland Jan - Dec. 2019
“Rembrandt and the Golden Age” Project is an accessory collection commissioned by Museum Prinsenhof Delft. Inspired by the paintings from the 17th Century and made with vintage lace and repurposed materials - unique and one off pieces were created for exhibition and sale from October. The year 2019 marks 350 years since Rembrandt died and numerous exhibitions and activities across the Netherlands are celebrating Holland’s most acclaimed art and artists of this era. Please see MLH Collections “the Golden Age” for photoshoot and pieces.
Laerdal Project , Norway Nov 2017 - Jan 2019
"Laerdal Project" was a Making programme working collaboratively with the community and local artisans . Michelle Lowe-Holder was one of the artist / designers invited to this small remote village famous for its beauty, and luxury salmon fishing . Working in mediums such as knit , embroidery, weaving, wood burning and applique, the idea was to create with the local residents to start small artisanal businesses in handmade traditional crafts. A project of over 15 months including on site workshops - Hand woven & knitted bags alongside blanket coats and embroidered sweat tops were developed.
"Kering Award for Sustainable Fashion" Mentor CSF & LCF FEB 2015 - DEC 2018
Michelle Lowe-Holder has been part of the mentoring team for the "Kering Award for Sustainable Fashion" since the partnership started in 2015. Students develop and propose tailor made creative and innovative sustainable solutions for Kering companies. 2 prizes are awarded - a paid internship or 10,000 Euro Grant Award for Sustainable Innovation. 2015 included Stella McCartney & Alexander McQueen 2016 Stella McCartney & Brioni 2017 Stella McCartney & Gucci 2018 Alexander McQueen & Pomellato
“CLOUD” Southbank , Royal Festival Hall Oct-7-14th 2018
Exhibition and Workshop - Designers and Artists were invited to collaborate on costumes addressing ocean pollution with Tim Yip for a catwalk and static exhibition in Royal Festival Hall. MLH completed 3 concepts “Ocean” , “Supermarket” and “Tickets”.
Video Here https://vimeo.com/291475424
"the URBAN FORAGER" Project London Design Festival Brompton Design District Sept 15-23 2018
“the Urban Forager” installation by Michelle Lowe-Holder was part of Brompton Design District ‘Material Consequences” curated by Jane Withers for London Design Festival. Focusing on the growing “NOS” problem in east london and the metal waste - it featured collaborations from photographers - Amit and Naroop / Polly Penrose / Kerry Dean / Nicola Favaron and Marianne Wie with a documentary film by Katy Davies, drawing by Amy Thompson and designs by Simpson Ma & Atticus Durnell.
See Documentary Film by Katy Davies here & Backstage Portrait Photo shoot by Amit & Naroop
UNIVERSITY OF VENICE COTTON FOR LIFE RECLAIM TO WEAR WORKSHOP , Italy FEB 10-13, 2017
Michelle Lowe-Holder was invited to present her work and hold a workshop at Venice University. Orsola de Castro and Filippo of Fashion Revolution organised a design student collaboration with Cotton for Life ,University of Venice and University of Egypt to create collections over the next year focusing on upcycling and sustainable awareness.
Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Collaboration, Norway JAN 2015 - Present
The collaboration was to bring about awareness of Hillesvåg sustainable wool and yarn into a international market . 4 knit designers were invited to create new hand knit patterns and “Knit Packs”. A family run business for 3 generations – the complete yarn production from sheep to farm to yarn cleaning, combing and dyeing and selling in house with local distribution is local and on site. The sustainable ethos is intrinsic to the company and reflects a modern closed loop cycle. The project aim was to speak of Norway’s heritage but to also modernise thru design - with this “Raggare” was researched .A rising sub-culture of revalists who celebrate the 1950’s in Scandinavia - a small collection of vintage knit pieces relevant for today were recreated and recoloured with new stitches and wools which simultaneously recognise the glory days of "kitsch" knit pattern photography and style.
Gjerdet Community Center Project , Norway FEB- SEPT 2015
The project goal was to provide community engagement and involvement thru “making” while respecting the history of the centre. Set over 8 months – the project included researching the vast amount of textiles, clothing and historical fashion magazines left in a farmhouse now museum. A version of the humble “string bag” constructed in linen was recovered- perfectly aligning with todays needs - it is compactible, useful, practical, hand crafted and beautiful. Deciding to focus on this remarkably simple item it was re-made with the community in vintage yarn offcuts. Additionally making workshops were held with local high school students.
BYBLOS SS15 Accessory Collection , UK/Italy JUN - AUG 2014
Michelle Lowe-Holder designed bespoke BYBLOS accessories in collaboration with Manuel Facchini. Fabrics and colours from BYBLOS collection were transferred into MLH silhouettes and shapes creating an exclusive collection for SS15.
"REPLENISH " video for Italian Vogue Fashion Dubai OCT 2013 / Digital Published FEB 2014
The commissioned video was shot for Italian Vogue for the "Vogue Fashion Dubai " event. The conceptual idea was to portray MLH's studio work and “show sustainability rather than talk about it.” Using the familiar imagery of the ballerina inside a girl's jewellery box - and playing with the concepts of unravelling and regeneration - the video focuses on sustainable design as essential to the dialogue of beauty and the environment.
Video by Katy Davies / Model Elisa Wald-Lasowsky / Creative Direction Polly Penrose / Music by Billy Faithfull
See the video here at www.vogue.it
Fire-Up Research Grant / Project & Exhibition, UK SEPT 2013 - MAR 2014
Michelle Lowe-Holder was one of the designers awarded a "FIRE UP" research grant by LCF to develop a 3D Print Design Project. In collaboration with Dr. Thomas Makryniotis, a researcher in 3D and virtual technologies at LCF’s Fashion Digital Studio with Professor Sandy Black. The idea was to develop a new bag concept through bio-mimicry and to create nylon printed nature-inspired bag frames mixed with textiles and hand finishing processes. The bags were exhibited at the Fire Up presentation and the 3D Print Show in London 2014 & AHRC Research and Development Exhibition London Design Festival 2018 .
SEWA Seed Beading Collections , INDIA Sept 2013-Sept 2014
From 2013 - 14 Michelle Lowe-Holder studio sampled and produced 3 collections “Circus”, “Fusion” and “Minted” with SEWA a charity based in India supporting women hand beaders. Ensuring fair wages, decent working conditions and protective labour law - women are also able to work from home as self employed crafters.
"Made in Osteroy" Project , Norway JUL 2013 - SEPT 2014
“Made in Osteroy” was a collaboration between UK designer/makers and Norwegian artisans. Michelle Lowe-Holder worked with a weaver, knitter, furniture maker, ribbon maker and upholsterer, to help produce a small collection of furniture / jewelry / knitwear and woven ribbon chair covers. Focusing on creating new products for a new craft economy thru the recreating of heritage crafts. All collaborations were displayed in the "Osteroy Museum 2013 / Bergen Showroom 2014 and Oslo Design & Architects Center 2014. As part of this project, MLH also conducted daily jewellery making workshops with local Norwegian high school students.
See the video here: www.youtube.com
Nike Sustainability Project , UK/USA JUN 2012 - JUL 2013
A year long project with LCF, CFS and NIKE – Working with Nike to develop an app that measures carbon footprint and environmental impact released in July 2013. Michelle Lowe-Holder / Christopher Raeburn / Matthew Miller & Alina Moat were invited to trial with the app in Portland and help form the development. Designers were also asked to mentor groups of students over a year to create sustainable designs with the app exhibited at the NIKE centre in Portland April 2013 / NIKE concept shop in London July 2013.
See the video here: www.youtube.com
M&S SWHOP LAB, Workshops & Exhibit UK APR - MAY 2012
M&S "SHWOP" collaboration with LCF / CFS and Oxfam, consisted of several designers including Michelle Lowe-Holder, Noel Stewart and Gary Harvey to design "upcycled" pieces for exhibition and hold workshops to help promote fashion recycling. The gallery space was covered with second hand clothes to demonstrate the amount of clothing thrown out in the UK each day. Joanna Lumley hosted its opening and the dialogue about clothing and fashion waste in the UK. Pieces made by each designer through recycling were exhibited in the gallery throughout the series of events.
SCIENCE MUSEUM Workshop LONDON - Lotto Lab, UK OCT 2011
Lotto Lab and the Science Museum workshop was a collaborative project hosted by the Lab of Misfits and Michelle Lowe-Holder. Using Beau Lotto's iconic colour dot theory ideas as a concept - this was translated into "make-your-own" DOT scarf experience and open to the public. The idea was that a dot scarf could be purchased with participants selecting their own additional coloured dots to be applied - creating individual and unique scarf designs while waiting, and touching upon colour theory and perception of colour in context.
i-D 'Sustain' Project SEPT 2011
i-D magazine and CFS collaborated to create "iDSustain" a digital space featuring a designer each month over a year. The concept was dedicated to exploring the ‘modern artisan’ in the contemporary fashion industry, and how that role continues to evolve with the consistent development of the increasingly interconnected and commercial fashion market. The pieces were exclusively designed and created for the shoot by photographer Kerry Dean / creative director Alex McIntosh / Stylist Sam Willoughby
Go to i-D / i-Sustain feature
"The Believers" Project & Video SEPT 2011
The Believers is a fast growing art-meets-fashion platform founded in 2010 by La Fortuna Studio to support and connect the initiatives of international rising designers, brands and other entities that are defining the future of fashion. “Smashing Future Fashion” was a project presenting sustainable hand crafted couture. Michelle Lowe-Holder created two dresses that were featured in an art/fashion video which premiered at New York Fashion Week, Somerset House Cinema, and London Fashion Week.
See the video here: www.youtube.com
Darkroom "Africa" Collaboration APR 2010
London boutique Darkroom invited Michelle Lowe-Holder to created unique one-off hand crafted pieces for the Africa exhibit in shop April 2010. The “Ribbon Reclaim” Autumn collection shown at London Fashion Week was re-interpreted in beautiful African print cottons mixed with colourful bright flocked hardware to set it off. Stylishly exhibited on signature black stands – all the pieces sold.
Topshop & Michelle Lowe-Holder Collaboration MARCH 2006 - JAN 2007
In September 2006, one of Topshop brands buyers found herself “falling in love” with a Michelle Lowe-Holder hand painted range in a boutique in LA. A month later, MLH Studio was in meetings with Topshop to create a small jersey print line. Plans for a small t-shirt range were quickly abandoned for a full range of favourites from the previous main line collections over the course of 2006 with four capsule ranges. The collection was sold in over 100 shops in the UK, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, and Kuwait.