Your Guide to Brighton Slow Fashion Week's Flagship Event at Brighton Dome
Most of us have a "nothing to wear" moment in front of a wardrobe that's full. This Saturday, Brighton has the answer. Slow Fashion Week closes with its flagship event at Brighton Dome: a full day of swapping, shopping, making and runway shows. Entry is free.
The event has a good track record too. Slow Fashion Week won Event of the Year at the Brighton Girl Awards 2025. It's easy to see why. It's run entirely by volunteers from the Brighton Fashion Collective, it's deliberately affordable, and the message is simple: you don't have to be perfect to take part. Whether you shop on the high street or make every stitch yourself, you're invited.
The Essentials
When: Saturday 26 September 2026, 10am–4.30pm
Where: Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton
Cost: Free entry. Book your free ticket in advance. The clothes swap is the only paid part.
Who it's for: All ages, and everyone from the style-obsessed to those who can't sew on a button (yet)
What's On
The Slow Clothes Swap
Mezzanine, 10am–4pm
£6, or £3 for the low-wage ticket
This is the biggest clothes swap of the year. It's run with Fat Club Brighton to make it properly size-inclusive. The pace is slow and relaxed, with rails of pre-loved pieces and time to try things on.
How it works:
Book an hourly time slot in advance
Bring up to five pre-loved garments, freshly laundered and in excellent condition
Your pieces are graded when you arrive, and you get tokens to spend on the rails
Adult clothing only
The Sustainable Marketplace
Concert Hall Foyer, 10am–4.30pm
A curated mix of local sustainable brands and handmade pieces. Come here for a one-off you won't find on the high street, and to meet the makers behind it.
Sew Fabulous Creative Studio
Founders Room, 10am–4pm
Free, drop-in, all materials provided
The Sew Fabulous team and guest artists run a series of workshops to help you mend, rework and love the clothes you already own. You don't need to book. Just turn up.
The Runways
Concert Hall Foyer
Some of the city's most exciting designers show their work across three runway shows:
10.30am: Emerging Talent Runway
1.30pm: Brighton Creatives Runway
4pm: Future Fashion Runway
In Conversation: Tansy Hoskins & Lakyn Carlton
Mezzanine, 11.30am–1pm
Award-winning journalist Tansy Hoskins joins stylist and slow fashion advocate Lakyn Carlton to talk about her new book, Charity Shop World. They'll look at what Britain's charity shops reveal about community, consumption, textile waste and inequality, and what they can teach us about a fairer fashion system. The talk is followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.
How to Plan Your Day
Here's one way to fit it all in:
10am: Arrive early and head straight to your swap slot
10.30am: Catch the Emerging Talent Runway
11.30am: Settle in for Tansy and Lakyn's conversation
1.30pm: Watch the Brighton Creatives Runway, then browse the marketplace
Afternoon: Drop into the Sew Fabulous studio and learn a skill to keep your new finds going
4pm: Finish with the Future Fashion Runway
Top Tip: Swap slots are the only part you pay for, and they're timed. Book yours first and plan the rest of the day around it.
How to Book
Book your free entry ticket and your swap slot on the Brighton Fashion Collective website. Look for the "Book Your Free Ticket" and swap "Book Now" links on the Slow Fashion Week programme page.
