Corset Revival Project
From Waste to Cultural Artefact
The Corset Revival Project began with the rescue of approximately 150 corsets destined for landfill. Organised by the UK’s Circular Fashion Incubator, this international creative initiative brings together designers and artists to reinterpret corsetry through circular fashion, heritage craft and material experimentation.
By transforming discarded corsets into contemporary wearable art, the project draws attention to fashion’s textile waste problem while exploring the creative possibilities within what already exists. Each reinterpretation gives an existing piece a new expression, extending its life through craftsmanship and imagination.
Exhibition, Runway & Charity
The reimagined corsets were showcased across a two-day programme on 16–17 March 2026 at Leeds Beckett University, combining exhibition, performance, scholarship, and philanthropy.
The event was then culminated in a silent auction raising funds for St Gemma’s Hospice, a much-loved Leeds-based charity.
Showcase by Shabel Paris
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Revival with Respect
Upcycled for the Corset Revival Project, Soft Armour by Shabél Paris is preserving the corset’s original silhouette honouring the skill and labour behind its construction while giving it a new meaning: an armour chosen by the wearer.
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Memory into Material
Handcrafted flower by flower, stitch by stitch, Soft Armor explores feminine resilience through deadstock and pre-loved materials, including silk kept since 2016. Materials held onto for years find renewed purpose in a piece shaped by care, memory and intention.
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Heritage in Every Stitch
Bobbin lace handcrafted by Sri Lankan artisan Udeni brings Sri Lankan heritage into dialogue with European corsetry. The piece reflects a practice shaped by close relationships with artisans and respect for the time, knowledge and devotion their craft requires.
