Ahista Stories Live

London's only South Asian sustainable fashion festival is back for a fourth year with talks, workshops and an exhibition.

Delivered by South Asian creatives, academics and campaigners advocating for a fairer fashion industry, Ahista Stories Live is back for its fourth year with a dynamic programme of talks, workshops and our first-ever exhibition. This time at our new venue in the heart of Tower Hamlets, workshops will celebrate South Asian textile artistry and unpack climate justice, and talks will expose exploitation in the fashion industry.

‘Ahista’ means 'slow' in Urdu, an official language in Pakistan and India. For us, slowness means advocating for mindful, maker-led production of fashion; fair labour; and conscious consumption in the face of ever-faster trend cycles and overproduction. Ahista Stories Live will create space to learn and reflect on how to enact and advocate for a slow approach to fashion.

Whether you’re a keen crafter or eager to build a more just, sustainable world, Ahista Stories Live has something for everyone.

Grab your General Admission ticket in advance and read below for workshop details:

Ahista Stories Live: Fashion Illustration - Art of Slow Fashion

Examine how sketching, sampling and trend cycles in fashion contribute to waste long before a garment is made.

Challenging overproduction at its source - the design process - participants will examine how sketching, sampling and trend cycles in fashion contribute to waste long before a garment is made.

Limma Ali has over a decade of experience in the luxury fashion industry, venturing into the art world in 2020 and showcasing themes such as cultural identity, social justice and personal expression. In November 2025, she launched her own jewellery brand inspired by her South Asian Heritage, Ataro Jewellery.

Age: 16+; Level: Beginner

Purchase tickets below (Workshop tickets must be purchased with a General Admission Ticket)

Artist Bio:

Ahista Stories is a community-led platform building a fairer fashion system and celebrating South Asian textile artistry. Through our annual festival, workshops, panel discussions and digital content, we work at the intersection of fashion, labour rights and climate justice - insisting that the fashion system must change. Follow @ahista.stories for updates about Ahista Stories Live and future events.

Testimonials : 

“I thought the facilitation was incredible - a real range of interactive, group work and introspection. I learned the importance of bringing heart, soul and mind to play when tackling complex, global systemic challenges - something I could take to work literally the next day.”

“I loved the range of activities that ASL brought this year. It made me deeply engage with climate justice while also going back to my childhood and making my own zine.” 

“Looking at our wardrobes through a critical lens and using it to spark conversations about broader issues of emotional triggers, identity and our communities in a setting with other like minded people.”

“I loved meeting new people and community with likeminded individuals” 

“the vibe was friendly, fun, and warm.” 

“It made me feel closer to my south Asian culture and want to immerse myself with people from similar cultures” 

“I love interactive things as im neurodivergent and so I need interactive acts along with breaks to help me to fully learn about topics and so I loved that there was a balance of everything”

Contact: If you have any questions regarding this event, please email programming@stmargaretshouse.org.uk

Venue:The Mulberry Hall at St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PL

Date: Sunday 18th October

Time: 11am-5pm

Tickets: £4-£26

General Admission:

• Pay Less (covers some of our costs) – I am a student, unemployed, on benefits or financially stressed - £4
• Standard (covers most of our costs) – I am employed, have some expendable income, and manage to meet my basic needs - £8
• Pay it Forward (covers all of our costs and supports our work) – I am employed or have enough savings to comfortably meet my basic needs - £12

General Admission + Workshop:

• Pay Less (covers some of our costs) – I am a student, unemployed, on benefits or financially stressed - £10
• Standard (covers most of our costs) – I am employed, have some expendable income, and manage to meet my basic needs - £18
• Pay it Forward/Solidarity (covers all of our costs and supports our work) – I am employed or have enough savings to comfortably meet my basic needs - £26