Promotion: Levi's has put together a series of workshops intended to teach the public how to weave baskets from denim scraps and make wax crayons using repurposed indigo ink extracted from the brand's old jeans.
The workshops accompany an upcoming exhibition of materials and objects made from upcycled denim that will be on show at Levi's London concept store, Levi's Haus, from 20 April to 5 May.
Organised by British educational association Store, the three bookable public workshops and series of school-organised after-school clubs will focus on teaching denim upcycling techniques.
The workshops, which include Indigo Wax Crayon Making, a denim fiber pulp after-school club and Basket Making, aim to educate audiences to consider the full lifecycle of Levi's denim and other consumer goods.
The Denim Basket Making Course, which runs on Saturday 23 April from 2 pm to 5 pm, will teach participants specific weaving techniques and how to reinforce denim, resulting in an original basket design that they can take home with them.
The workshop will also be accompanied by a Maker's Manual and a How To Video, so participants and the wider public can recreate the baskets at home using an old pair of Levi's.
Participants of the Indigo Wax Crayon Making Workshop will work with repurposed indigo ink extracted from a pair of jeans to make wax crayons.
The course will give participants a chance to learn about silicone mould making, crayon making and a new lifecycle of indigo. It takes place on Saturday 30 April from 11 am to 2 pm and again from 3 pm to 6 pm.
"The material's former life gives you a lot of clues about what you can make," said Store. "Every stage of production, from harvesting the cotton plant and weaving the threads to dying the fabric helps to generate ideas. Cotton fibres, cotton threads and cotton fabric are all distinct with special material qualities."
Store is an association of architects, artists and designers who seek to support young people through applied creative courses and address the social imbalance in art, design and architecture education.
The collective has a workshop space and shop in King's Cross from which it runs after-school clubs, one-day workshops and summer schools.
"Our programmes for the state school sector allow students to work alongside practising artists and designers to develop their own products, develop making skills and build portfolios towards applications for higher education," Store said.
"Ultimately we are working to ensure that the next generation of creatives better reflect the communities they work for and live in."
The workshops will run alongside the exhibition of upcycled denim materials and objects, which was put together by Netherlands-based design-lab Envisions in collaboration with the British Council.
"The British Council is the UK's cultural relations organisation and the work of the Architecture Design and Fashion programme seeks to address today's global challenges by connecting designers and design communities exploring the social and cultural value of a wide range of design disciplines," said director of Architecture Design and Fashion at the British Council, Sevra Davis.
"The Levi's digital residency capitalises on the power of bilateral collaboration, offering the opportunity to share and exchange knowledge and design practices across borders, reaching a wider audience and challenging perceptions."
The exhibition at 41 Great Marlborough St, Carnaby, London, W1F 7RG will be open to the public from 20 April to 5 May with workshop bookings available exclusively through the Levi's 247 App from Monday 11 April.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Levi's as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.