Warped and Wasted is seam collective’s ambitious project for 2025, which focuses on artistic development, sustainability and collaboration. The project culminates in the Warped and Wasted exhibition at ACEarts in Somerton, Somerset, UK from 23 August to 11 October 2025, and Textile Talks: Textiles, sustainability and collaboration, a one-day symposium on Friday 3 October 2025.
Warped and Wasted will be a large scale, experimental art installation, made exclusively with 100% waste, existing second hand and biodegradable textiles. This collaboration between 14 seam collective artists aims to highlight the issues surrounding textile waste and care for the environment. The artists taking part are: Alice Marie Archer, Lou Baker, Oliver Bliss, Youngye Glory Cho, Jane Colquhoun, Julie Heaton, Desiree Jeans, Nina Gronw Lewis, Helen MacRitchie, Joy Merron, Lydia Needle, Angie Parker, Nicola Turner and Penny Wheeler.
Textile Talks: Textiles, sustainability and collaboration invites you to join the conversation surrounding the themes of the Warped and Wasted project. It is being held at the Somerset Parish Rooms, opposite the Warped and Wasted exhibition at ACEarts, so that in-person attendees can hear, and see in the exhibition, how seam collective’s approach to textiles, art, sustainability and collaboration has developed, with invited speakers adding a broader and longer-term view to the discussion. Tickets for Textile Talks are available here.
Every year, approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated globally and, in the UK alone, over 300,000 tonnes of clothing are discarded annually; it’s an alarming problem. Rose Marcario, former CEO of the clothing company, Patagonia, says that ‘…change can start with just a needle and thread.’ seam collective sees connections with care in our use of textiles and caring for the environment.
Working collaboratively, seam collective is researching and developing ways to work more sustainably, distilling their ideas into a cohesive vision. They are pleased to be working with external mentors Judith van den Boom, who leads the MA in Regenerative Design at Central St. Martins in London, and Helen Carnac, an artist and curator who has experience in facilitating collaboration in fine art projects. Warped and Wasted challenges seam collective to be more ambitious in their collective arts practice and benefits the 14 artists individually in terms of professional development.
This project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and has been made possible by the many individuals who donated to the seam collective Crowdfunder.
Warped and Wasted will be an inspiring experience, which will provoke thought, conversation and action around the complex issues of textiles, sustainable art practices and the climate emergency.
Warped and Wasted – the exhibition:
Saturday 23 August – Saturday 11 October 2025,
ACEarts, Market Place, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7NB,
Tuesday 11am-5pm, Wednesday -Saturday 10am-5pm. Free entry.
Warped and Wasted – meet the artists:
Saturday 30 August 2025, 11am-1pm,
ACEarts, Market Place, Somerton, Somerset TA11 7NB. Free entry.
Warped and Wasted – Textile Talks: Textile, sustainability and collaboration:
Friday 3 October 2025, 10am-4pm,
Somerton Parish Rooms + ACEarts, Market Place, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7NB
Tickets for Textile Talks are available here.