Young people from Toxteth take over Mequarter with new fashion and photography exhibition

A group of young people from Tiber on Lodge Lane have teamed up with Tate Liverpool for their latest exhibition.

The new exhibition The Threads that Bind Us will be shown at Metquarter from 12pm – 4pm between 22 – 28 August.

Tiber have collaborated with photographers, fashion stylists and designers to create the exhibition. It features style and fashion photography showcasing garments designed and made themselves, and styled with fashion pieces from CRICKET.

The Threads that Bind Us features portraits of Tiber young producers wearing their designs, created with the support of fashion designer Andrew Ibi, and includes reflections on their experiences of community, what it is like to be a young person in 2024 and creating positive change. 

There will also be documentary photography of their journey on the project and a behind-the-scenes film, as well an audio commentary and preparatory work like moods boards and other inspiration, for the public to enjoy and be able to follow the full creative process in making the clothing and images.

Tiber young producers are a group of young producers, artists and curators aged 13-18. Over the last few months they have been able to learn from industry leaders and pioneering artists to inspire them as they explored creativity, fashion and style through their own designs and photography.

This has been led by Stef Bradley, Curator, Learning at Tate Liverpool and producer and photographer Emma Case who have worked with the group throughout the project.

The young people made their fashion garments using upcycling techniques to create something fresh, inspired by the sustainable fashion movement. The group were given unparalleled access to Liverpool’s ultimate luxury retailer, CRICKET, working with their stylist to select high fashion clothes to pair with their own creations for a photo shoot at Yeti Creative which they art directed.

Elsie Kinzambi, one of Tiber’s young producers, said:

“Working with Tate has been an experience of a lifetime. Working with stylists and photographers has given me an insight into my future and I’m so grateful for the amazing people we met. I can’t wait to flourish on my fashion journey.”

Shanti-Deva Helena Dubicki-Wild, one of Tiber’s young producers, said:

“Being in this group is eye opening. It put us in rooms that we never thought we would be in. It’s listened to our ideas that school deemed fantasy. My creative capacity has expanded. ” 

Justine Mills, Founder at CRICKET said: 

“Community and inclusivity have always been at the core of CRICKET’s values since opening in Liverpool in the early 90s and having the opportunity to work with Tate and the Tiber Young Producers on such an empowering and uplifting project has been fantastic. We are strong advocates of the city and the vibrant talent we have here, and we have been impressed by the creativity, positivity, and enthusiasm this group has shown.”

Jennina O’Neill, Centre Manager at Metquarter said: 

“We are extremely excited to welcome Tate Liverpool’s latest exhibition to the centre. It has been great to see how the Tiber Young Producers have been able to elevate their project, working with CRICKET in the centre on styling sessions for the penultimate exhibition shoot. We feel Metquarter is the perfect space to house the exhibition within the city, with both CRICKET and other iconic independent retailers residing within the centre. We hope to welcome many members of the local community to the centre to visit the exhibition in order to celebrate the work of the Tiber Young Producers.”

During the project the group worked with a number of industry professionals to learn new skills and gain inspiration.

They examined the intersection between style and identity with stylist Mithila Ramagavigan; explored ways to rework garments with fashion designer Alena Kudera; worked with Neil Keating to learn free flow drawing technique in order to design and art direct their own photo shoot; were inspired to take their photography to new limits by award-winning photographer, Benji Reid; and powered up their creative writing with Mike Pinnington. 

Tate Liverpool has been working with the Tiber Young Producers for more than 2 years and the group have previously created Future Forecast, a newly commissioned audio-visual artwork about climate change, in collaboration with Turner Prize winner Mark Leckey which was on display in the gallery at the start of 2024. The group have also created a film and showcased it at a community event in the gallery, which included a Q&A and a performance by Neo-Jazz Singer-Songwriter Ni Maxine and contributed to a number of Late at Tate events.

For more info on The Threads that Bind Us click here.

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