Carbon Live Returns
The 2023 Carbon Live x SHEIN logo
Carbon Live is back for it’s fourth year running. The third-year students from Solent’s triumphant Fashion Media course return with Carbon’s anticipated week of student-led events. Tackling the issues faced by the student community extending to the general public, Carbon Live champions development and growth in a real-world, and digital setting.
This year’s initiative once again is in aid of charitable causes as selected by the group. Coppafeel, the breast-cancer awareness non-profit, Student Minds, who provide mental health support for students nationwide, and Southampton Hospitals Charity, bringing live art sessions for patients and staff are the organisations in focus for the week. This year’s theme, dubbed ‘Reimagine’, will feature four different events all aiming to contribute towards community, industry, sustainability and creative mentorship.
For the first time since Carbon Live’s launch, it will be collaborating with a live client. Major global fashion retailer, SHEIN, will be working with the group to launch the series of events. The previously ‘closed off’ company is now opening up to honest conversations with the public setting out to change the rhetoric which has attached itself to the company in recent years. Transparent conversations surrounding Corporate Social Responsibility and ways they can harbour emerging talent are centric to their ethos imploring us to focus on their goals moving forward. SHEIN will be partnering with the third-year students as part of their Media Event module focusing their efforts on ways they can support students to have a wider impact on the world outside of the classroom. Dissected into four groups, the course has been directed to create their live events focusing on each of SHEIN’s core brand pillars: Sustainability, Community, Industry and their SHEIN X initiative – “providing emerging talents with unprecedented access to our vast community of customers worldwide.”
Speaking to Hannah Eichler, the Content and Community Manager for SHEIN, we asked what the brand hopes will come from their new partnership:
“Having been a university lecturer at Solent myself I saw first-hand how valuable these industry partnerships were… I have a strong connection to the university so of course it was my first priority to work with. Solent has an unrivalled pool of emerging talent and we feel passionately about supporting the students.”
Hannah Eichler
The events for the week commencing on the 27th of November include an array of activities starting with ‘Monday Night at The Movies’. In aid of Coppafeel, participants are invited to watch everyone’s favourite chick flick, Clueless, accompanied by a mug of hot chocolate (in your own reusable cup). Held in Solent’s Sonar Cinema Room, attendees are encouraged to bring along an old bra for donation. Tickets are £3.00 on Fatsoma (where the rest of the events can also be found).
Tuesday sees the highly anticipated ‘Sip & Paint’ at All Bar One. Hosting an evening of cocktails, painting, and a talk by a local designer, participants will have the chance to win mentoring by SHEIN’s creative team in preparation for their SHEIN X competition. (Read more about it here). Tickets are £6 which will guarantee you a free cocktail on arrival, proceeds will go to Southampton Hospitals Charity.
The 29th of November hosts ‘Fashion Futures in Comfort’, inviting students, the wider community, and anyone considering a career in the Fashion Media Industry to learn more about their potential career paths. Guest speakers from varying sectors across the spectrum will join Carbon at The Dock on Solent’s Campus for a less anxiety-inducing discussion on life after graduating, or for anyone at a career crossroads. The free session will allow guests to network, ask questions, and calm their nerves leaving them with more confidence about their future prospects. Anyone presenting a ticket at the door will also be entered into a giveaway with a chance to win a variety of beauty and wellness services as provided by local businesses such as a set of lash extensions from Lashes by Karina, a 4-class pass from Suni Yoga, and a discounted Pilates session from Pilates with Ayla. Tickets for this event are free.
Finishing the week will be the ‘Winter Sports Day’ where the ultimate battle between Southampton’s Universities will commence in aid of Student Minds. With the chance to win a bottle of Charles Heidseick Champagne, students will go head to head at Solent’s Sports Complex. Tickets are £3 on the door, although pre-registration is required to be entered in the prize draw.
The focus on local outreach hopes to encourage the wider community to connect with each other, reimagining what their futures could look like all in safe and welcoming environments. Carbon Live aims to foster creativity not just for the students at Solent but for anyone looking to make a change.
Will we see you there?
