Celebrating Balikis: Fashion Forward Showcase
At the start of 2026, the Future Makers studio transformed into a vibrant catwalk, setting the stage for something more than a fashion show.
Balikis Akindiya, a second year BA Fashion Design student at Nottingham Trent University, took over the space with Fashion Forward: a progressive, thought provoking showcase rooted in circular design, personal resilience and a clear vision for where fashion needs to go next.
Balikis has been part of the Future Makers Sewing Studio almost since the beginning, contributing to projects and collaborating with the team while developing her own creative work.
While the collection itself was developed alongside her BA Fashion Design studies at Nottingham Trent University, Balikis has been an integral part of the Future Makers Sewing Studio, working within the space, contributing to the Sewing Collective and bringing her circular values into everything she does.
Designed through doubt, made with purpose
Opening the evening, Balikis spoke honestly about where this collection came from. A period of uncertainty. Questioning everything. Feeling stuck.
Instead of stepping away, she leaned in, using fashion as a tool for expression, grounding 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,” Balikis reflected
This collection was built in those in between moments. The ones where confidence wobbles, but creativity keeps going.
And that message carried through every look on the runway.
Circular by design
Sustainability here wasn’t just for show, it was embedded.
Every piece in the collection followed clear circular principles:
Reused, second-hand and upcycled fabrics, reworked with care and intention
Natural dyes, sourced from the earth and applied slowly, thoughtfully
Prints inspired by nature, echoing the environments we’re responsible for protecting
The result? A collection that felt expressive, grounded and current. Proof that circular fashion can be bold, experimental and style led without compromising values.
The Sewing Studio: Supporting Circular Fashion and Innovation
This is exactly why the Future Makers Sewing Studio exists.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about access, experimentation and momentum. A place where people can explore new ideas, experiment with materials and test what circular design can look like in practice, with a team committed to keeping textiles in use for longer.
With around 30 guests, 10 models and a room full of support, Balikis delivered a well considered event. Planned, styled and executed with care, clarity and confidence.
“The Sewing Studio is about exploring circular design in practice and finding ways for textiles to stay in use for longer,” Tristan, Director of Future Makers, explained.
We’d also like to thank everyone who travelled long distances to attend, including influencers and supporters who helped make the evening feel special and full of energy.
The future of fashion is happening here
Big ideas don’t always start in big institutions. Sometimes they begin in shared studios, with borrowed materials, second hand fabrics and designers willing to learn by doing.
Balikis’s showcase proved the next generation of fashion designers isn’t waiting for permission, they’re already building a future that’s thoughtful, responsible and exciting. Her work is a glimpse of what’s possible when circular thinking is applied creatively and practically.
We’re proud to have her in the Sewing Studio community and can’t wait to see where her passion takes her next.
Get Involved
The event also highlighted the wider potential of the Sewing Studio as a space to test, rethink and creatively use materials. At Future Makers, we’re working with businesses using plastic-based textiles, from event carpets to inflatables, to keep these materials in circulation longer. Reworking, reprocessing and redesigning post use textiles turns them into valuable resources instead of end of life problems.
If your business is looking for ways to keep plastic based textiles in use, reduce waste and develop meaningful circular outcomes, get in touch: hello@future-makers.co.uk.
Follow Balikis and her fashion journey on Instagram @Balikis_423
Credit: Photography: @happyboymontage | Stylist: @abrahamathuai