Christopher Raeburn, Collaborator at Large Timberland, hosts Sustainable Christmas workshops

November 2022: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at East Village, a vibrant neighbourhood in Stratford by Get Living. The village turns on its lights on Thursday 1 December with a special event and launches a sustainable Christmas market and workshops for the whole community to enjoy throughout the festive period.

Programming highlights include Christmas decoration and bag making classes with Hackney designer Christopher Raeburn, known for his ‘reuse, recycle, reduce’ approach, taking place at East Village’s creative hub, The Lab E20. Each event will provide a charity contribution to Intoart which supports artists with learning disabilities.

FREE FESTIVE FAMILY FUN
Organised by the village’s operator Get Living, Thursday 1 December, 17:00 – 20:30, sees East Village’s annual Light Switch On return, for local residents to come together and spread festive cheer.

Acting as a centrepiece for Christmas at East Village, is a Norway spruce tree carefully sourced from a sustainable forest, with unique decorations carefully and responsibly selected by RÆBURN Design, in partnership with Pines and Needles. Many can create their own RÆBURN inspired decorations as part of this year’s festive workshops, which will also be available to purchase as part of the market.

Make magical memories and enjoy a range of seasonal food and drinks at Urban Food Fest’s market stalls and an abundance of family entertainment for all to enjoy. Adding further sparkle to the event, ‘Sparks’ LED drummers will perform, and don’t miss the Santa Paws Pet Parade for all East Village pets to showcasing their festive furry finery.

Londoners’ can also rock around the Christmas Tree to live music from a range of artists on the stage from the local E20 area including BBC Music Choir, Guitar Tuition East London and surprise Special Guest…
The event is free to attend and open to all. Attendees are encouraged to register a ticket via Eventbrite.

REGENERATIVE BY DESIGN: A CREATIVE, CONSCIOUS CHRISTMAS
From Thursday 1 – Sunday 11 December, The Lab E20, located at 3-4 East Park Walk, E20 1JL, will host a series of Christmas multidisciplinary workshops and events with RÆBURN – the fashion studio curated by Christopher Raeburn, and Intoart – a pioneering design studio and charity championing artists with learning difficulties and disabilities:
Thursday 1 December, 18:30 – 20:30: Join RÆBURN and Intoart for festive drinks, masterclasses in decoration ideas – including military crate wrapping – and installations surrounded by unique art and clothing design, hosted alongside the launch of the Christmas market and tree ‘switch on’ at East Village.
Saturday 3 & Sunday 11 December, 13:00 & 15:00: It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill, and while retailers have increased prices to reduce waste (average 30p / bag x approx. 365 bags per person each year) it is estimated that 500 single-use plastic bags are replaced by using one reusable bag for one year. Join RÆBURN and Intoart to create and design your own sustainable and fashion-conscious reusable bags – perfect for your Christmas shopping, or gift this Christmas
Sunday 4 & Saturday 10 December, 13:00 & 15:00: Reuse materials sourced by The Lab E20, and old military parachutes, to create and decorate your own Christmas cards – with an added and unique sustainable twist and story.
Thursday 8 December, 18:30 – 20:00: RÆBURN Connects will also be hosting a design focussed discussion focussed on key topical issues on sustainability within the fashion industry on.
To sign up to these events, please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/the-lab-e20-xmas-market-575799, attendees will be asked to kindly pledge a £5 charity donation to Intoart.
The Lab E20 – designed by award-winning pioneer of responsible design, Christopher Raeburn – is East Village’s flagship for community led co-creation with a focus on positive fashion, climate action and the circular economy. The full programme of partner events is available at: getliving.com/the-lab-E20.

Jackie Robinson, Director of East Village, said: “After a few uncertain years of Christmas planning, we are delighted to be bringing family, friends, and neighbours together again to celebrate this festive holiday.
“With Get Living’s focus on creating places fit for the future, we really wanted to focus this years’ events and activities on sustainability and the circular economy. We want more people recycling this year, and hope that those who attend RAEBURN’s and Intoart’s creative recycling workshops will be educated and inspired to continue these practices into the new year.”

Christopher Raeburn, Founder of RÆBURN and Collaborator at Large, Timberland, said: “Christmas is a time for communities to come together and The Lab E20 promises to be both a creative call to arms and a springboard for generations now and in the future.
“We hope that all who visit the space will be empowered to make positive changes towards a circular economy whilst also enjoy some fun festive cheer and crafting with their neighbours and community.”

Located in Zone 2/3 and access to Stratford and Stratford International stations, East Village has London is easily accessible via the new Elizabeth Line, Jubilee Line, Central Line, London Overground and DLR, as well as national rail services.
A range of homes to rent in East Village are available through Get Living, for current availability and pricing visit the Find A Home page.