A hands-on Carnival Headdress Workshop lands at Sir Devonshire Square Hotel this week, feathers, beads and a welcome drink included, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival.
It runs Wednesday 19 August, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, led by Malaina of East London studio Well-Crafted. Guests design and build their own statement Carnival headpiece using bold colours, rich textures and vibrant embellishments.
Most Carnival prep is about outfits bought off a rail. This one has you gluing the feathers on yourself.
What to expect
Malaina is a British-Guyanese painter and textile artist, born in Suriname and raised in Guyana, now based in London. Educated at Goldsmiths, her work explores personal and collective histories, memory and migration through painting, textile, sculpture and installation.
Over the two hours, guests get some insight into the cultural roots of Carnival aesthetics while experimenting with colour, texture and embellishment, building a wearable headpiece ready for Carnival weekend. A welcome drink from Wednesday’s Domaine is included.
Sir Devonshire Square sits in a brick courtyard between Spitalfields Market and the City, and runs a year-round programme of talks, live music and intimate dinners. This workshop slots neatly into that, a proper hands-on session rather than a passive tasting or talk.
The London x London take: most Carnival coverage is about where to stand and what to eat once you’re there. A workshop that teaches the actual craft behind the headdresses is a nice change of pace, and £22.38 for a welcome drink and materials is a fair price for a Wednesday evening well spent.
Need to know
- Where: Sir Devonshire Square Hotel, Devonshire Square, London
- When: Wednesday 19 August, 6:30pm-8:30pm
- Tickets: £22.38 per person, including a welcome drink
