Celebrating Balikis and Circular Fashion at Future Makers
At the start of 2026, Balikis Akindiya, a second-year BA Fashion Design student at Nottingham Trent University, transformed the Future Makers Sewing Studio into a catwalk for Fashion Forward, a showcase rooted in circular design and her vision for the future of fashion.
Balikis has been part of the Future Makers Sewing Studio and Sewing Collective since its early days, developing her own creative practice alongside the team
Designed through doubt
Balikis spoke openly about the uncertainty behind the collection, describing how fashion became a way to turn doubt into creativity and change.
“This collection came from a time when I questioned everything. Fashion became a way to turn doubt into something meaningful, using second-hand materials, natural dyes and design choices that respect the planet.”
Circular by design
The collection used second-hand and upcycled fabrics, natural dyes and nature-inspired prints, demonstrating how circular fashion can be expressive, experimental and style-led.
The Sewing Studio
The Future Makers Sewing Studio provides space to access, experiment and develop ideas around circular fashion, helping people explore materials and keep textiles in use for longer.
“The Sewing Studio is about exploring circular design in practice and finding ways for textiles to stay in use for longer”, Tristan Hessing, Founder and Managing Director, Future Makers
The future of fashion is happening here
Balikis’ showcase demonstrated what’s possible when circular thinking is explored through creativity, experimentation and making.
We’re proud to have her as part of the Future Makers Sewing Studio community and look forward to seeing where her work takes her next.
The Sewing Studio also supports businesses working with plastic-based textiles, from event carpets to inflatables, helping them explore ways to rework, reprocess and redesign materials for longer use.
If your business has plastic based textiles to develop or rework, get in touch at hello@future-makers.co.uk.
Follow Balikis: @Balikis_423
Photography: @happyboymontage | Stylist: @abrahamathuai