non-profit and social projects
As part of our corporate social responsibility policy, Studio Softbox supports at least one charity, non-profit or social project every year.
Here are three very different projects that we have been very proud to be a part of, each run tirelessly by skilled and motivated people on a mission to help improve lives, hearts and minds.
1. Sharewear Uncovered: highlighting little discussed issues around the impact of clothing poverty and featuring the only clothing bank of its kind in the UK.
2. Baking a Difference: a social project using the multi sensory activity of bread making to help dementia sufferers gain concentration, satisfaction and friendship.
3. Emotional Fit / Trying it On : an enlightening and empowering doctorate level research collaboration exploring issues around fashion design for the often overlooked demographic of women over 50. In association with the Nottingham Trent University School of Fashion and Textiles.
Sharewear has since screened the films across the UK to gain funding, help it grow, move premises and support many more people experiencing clothing poverty.
Baking A Difference has grown to become a learning resource, allowing the principles and techniques established in the initial workshops to be used by anyone who wants to teach an/or learn the art of breadmaking, be that for the benefit of more dementia sufferers, community workshops or just to bake with your family.
Emotional Fit has gone on to be presented in The Swedish School of Textiles, The Melbourne School of Fashion and Textiles, shown as part of Intersections exhibition at Leicester University and presented at the Nottingham Trent University Research Conference. It has also screened twice at WOFFF festival, Manchester, gaining ‘Best of the Fest’ status in August 2019.
Sharewear uncovered: a promotional documentary about a Clothing bank
“I’m still using Studio Softbox’s atmospheric film ‘Sharewear: Uncovered’ in presentations 2 years after filming was completed. We have used versions of the film to help us acquire funding, to share with journalists and generally promote and explain what we do and this film has been the catalyst for helping us to enter a new stage of development.
Why? Because, although we have grown so much and even moved premises since that time, their storytelling through powerful editing and stunning cinematography really grabs the attention of any audience.
It’s amazing, I love it! Thank you so much!”
Baking A Difference
“Our choice of Studio Softbox was, it turns out, perfect! I’m delighted that together we have created a real legacy for the project, making the ideas and experience available for all to use, worldwide!
Thanks so much Ursula and Jim - it was brilliant to work with you.”
emotional fit / trying it on: two research documentaries
“Documenting the final stages of a research collaboration between academics from NTU and Coventry University. This project centred around developing a new fashion design methodology for mature women. As the design process featured in the project involved tacit communication and embodied knowledge, filming was a logical means to provide examples of interaction that could not be so directly evidenced by submitting a research paper consisting of text alone.
The project has subsequently taken on a life of its own and has been presented, both in experimental and more conventional mini documentary form, at The Swedish School of Textiles, The Gwanju Design Biennale in South Korea, The Melbourne School of Fashion and Textiles and presented by Jim Boxall from Studio Softbox and Dr Katherine Townsend at the Nottingham Trent University Research Conference and selected as part of a special ‘best of the fest’ screening at The WOFFF film festival in Manchester.
It is due to be exhibited in April 2020 at Fashion: Innovations in Sustainability exhibition in Leicester LCB Depot.”
“A truly inspiring and important project”
“Working with Jim on the short documentary film, Emotional Fit, enabled our research team to capture the aims, objectives and significantly, the strong collaborative relationships required in participatory research.
The film captures the co-creative focus and outcomes of the 2-year Emotional Fit project and Jim’s empathetic, responsive approach put everyone at ease.”