Cabinets of Curiosities | Shoreditch Design Triangle: Oitij-jo x Sweaty Betty
Oitij-jo
Oitij-jo is dedicated to providing platforms for creative practitioners to collaborate and enhance British/Bangla engagement within wider global communities.
With a focus on presenting diverse cultural events - from curating festivals to presenting intimate events – Oitij-jo prioritises critical discourse and celebrates the diverse cultural heritage that the global Bangla community has to share.
An informal community of artists, creatives, and professionals who support and promote next-generation British-Bangla talent, enabling them to connect and access knowledge. workshops on art, craft, food, fashion, photography, and beyond are focused on engaging with people, particularly women and young people, to explore aspects of the British-Bangla narrative.
We managed to grab a few minutes with Oitij-jo’s busy team to ask them about their collective, and how vital their work is to their community.
How does creativity support and uplift your community?
Oitij-jo was established to celebrate creativity within the British Bangladeshi community, so creativity is central and a primary focus of our work. We strongly believe that the process of creativity, either by the creative practitioner or by engaging with people to explore their creativity, can become an outlet to express themselves, engage with others, and get involved in activities that seem out of reach.
How important is funding for creative projects for you specifically, and to communities in general?
We understand the difficulties of being able to create without the right funding in place, and how often that stops and stunts creative projects. This means that funding is an integral mechanism to enable more creativity and to sustain existing projects too.
Without sustainable funding mechanisms, we are limited in what we can provide as we understand that not everyone can afford the time or be able to pay for things.
Where would you love to see your community's crafts displayed/sold?
We would like to have the community’s work displayed across galleries in London, be part of exhibitions related to sustainable crafts and the products to be sold on our own website, physical store, and other outlets like independent ethical stores and online platforms.
Join Oitij-jo for a lunchtime taster session! click here for the autumn schedule, and here to discover what else they have going on.
Follow Oitij-jo on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
Sweaty Betty
Sweaty Betty is a global activewear and lifestyle brand for women.
They are also a community that believes fitness is a flip-the-switch trigger for becoming the woman you want. Since founder Tamara got them moving in 1998, they’ve stood and run for both performance and style. Their on-the-go community treats every day like it’s made for moving, and they’re always pushing to do better. Like crafting clothes from responsibly sourced materials and recycled bottles; caring for both your body and the planet.
Sweaty Betty has been a fitness fan favourite for decades now. With its strong stance on empowering women, we felt they would make the perfect champions for Oitij-jo and we’re so excited to have them as part of the Cabinets of Curiosities project. we asked the store manager, Caitlin Jeal, a few questions:
What is your history/the history of your business with Redchurch Street?
We have been in Redchurch Street for 7 years now and we have seen the evolution of what it has become which is teaming with life, people all around London and even the globe will pop by here, whether this was their original destination or an extra discovery, this diverse street welcomes you.
Why do you think it's important to champion independent design?
The last 18 months have proved that right now, more than ever before, we need to push and support one another. By helping and supporting local designers we can not only bring notice to the street and area we are in, but we can elevate someone who deserves a platform to express their designs and work, to give everyone a boost and something new to see.
In your opinion, what is it about Shoreditch that makes it such a creative hot spot?
This area has so many types of people in it. It has professionals (in every aspect), artists, families and so many more, this is definitely the kind of area people will gravitate too, which especially means that inspiration may strike here.
“We can elevate someone who deserves a platform to express their designs and work.”
Sweaty Betty also took part in the Art Trail for StreetFest, Redchurch Street’s summer celebration. they hosted the work of local photographer, Olivia Fraser.
photography (c) Jeremy Freedman
Cabinets of Curiosities is a project for Shoreditch Design Triangle, a cultural event that celebrates the creative industry in East London.
it was established in 2008 as a vehicle for the designers, companies, and institutions situated in the East End to collaborate on the promotion of their activities during the London Design Festival.
click for more information.
