Knittaz with Attitude: Fashion as Activism with Vaz

Welcome to Aunty Social's longest running creative group: textile crafts, good tunes, yummy veggie/vegan food and plenty of brews.

November session - guest artist Vaz

Fashion as Activism

How can fashion or the clothes we wear every day help make the world better?

We’ll explore the history of how queer communities have used fashion as activism, from bold slogan T-shirts to gender-bending style statements.This is a hands-on opportunity to embroider, appliqué, or draw your chosen messages - whether poetry, slogans, or rhymes - onto a piece of clothing you bring along.

You can join in with the artist-led activity or bring your own crafty projects to work on.
Please make sure that you book the correct ticket

Beginners warmly welcomed.

Cost: £4 (£3 for kids)
Please note that the artist-led activity is suitable for ages 12+, but accompanied children are welcome to attend to do general crafting.

Includes

• Wool & Equipment
• A plant-based meal
• Hot and cold drinks

PLEASE BOOK YOUR SPOT TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT - and so we can make enough food!

This session is being funded by Historic England’s Know Your Neighbourhood programme.

These sessions are in our upstairs workshop space. We're having a lift installed in Autumn 2025.

There is currently no level access. It’s a single flight of 14 steps then you go around the corner and there are two small steps. Once you’re upstairs there’s a loo. You shouldn’t need to come downstairs for anything until the end of the event.

If you can’t manage the stairs but really want to attend, please let us know by the 24th of the month before by emailing (using the contact organiser button/link) or sending us an SMS text/WhatsApp message on 07957 602790. and we will try to move the activity downstairs.

If you have additional access needs (e.g. large print, BSL interpreter, level access) please let us know.

GETTING HERE

• Tram & Train to Blackpool North Station
• Bus: No 6 or 18 to Topping St., No 3, 3a, 5c, 6, 18 to Church St (Stanley Buildings), No 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 14 to Talbot Rd

• Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on East Topping St and Talbot Road multi storey. There is also parking at the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, please make sure that you check the terms before you use the car park.

TOP TIP: If you need to park a car, then there is usually plenty of free on-street parking on Edward St and Topping St from 6pm.

REFUNDS

• If you can no longer attend, please request a refund using the link in your confirmation email.
• Orders can be refunded up to 7 days before the event.
• Refunds will be subject to the Eventbrite booking fee of 6.95% + £0.59 per ticket

Vaz, founder and director of Queer By Gum CIC, is a freelance artist, musician and workshop facilitator from North Yorkshire.

Drawing inspiration from the DIY-ethos, their practice combines hand-painted and embroidered typography with rhyme, rhythm, and imagery to advocate for social change and inspire collective action.

Through their work, Vaz explores art as protest, as a tool for wellbeing, and as a part of community-led initiatives - guided by the belief that art and craft are synonymous with personal and political power.