Panel talk: the rise of craft in a digital age

As part of the Food & Drink Studio’s Do It Yourself season — and coinciding with Craft Week — writer and barrister Sarah Langford brings friends together for an evening exploring the resurgence of craft in the age of the algorithm.

In the past few years, there has been a growing movement back towards hands‑on skills and creative self‑sufficiency. This panel asks why, at a moment shaped by economic uncertainty, political instability and digital overload, so many people are rediscovering the value of making things for themselves.

Joining Sarah is food writer Kathy Slack, who turned to growing and gardening after experiencing burnout while working in advertising — a journey she reflects on in her book Rough Patch: How a Year in the Garden Brought Me Back to Life — alongside Pinky Laing, founder of Remnant Revolution that turn surplus textiles into homeware while creating empowering, community‑focused sewing opportunities for women and Julian Parmiter founder of Create Academy, the UK based learning platform on a mission to build people's creative confidence through expert-led courses across interior design, gardening, floristry, food and craft.

Ticket includes welcome drink, 3 canapes and a night of scintillating conversation.

Sarah Langford is a barrister, writer, farmer and sustainability advocate. In 2017 she moved with her family to the Suffolk countryside, where she took on the running of her parents‑in‑law’s arable and pasture farm, transforming it from conventional to organic regenerative practices. Over seven years managing the farm, she developed a deep belief in the power of those who grow our food and care for the land to drive meaningful change. Her second book, Rooted: Stories of Life, Land, and a Farming Revolution (Viking, 2022), traces her unexpected journey into regenerative farming through the stories of the people who shaped her understanding of what it means to farm today. Sarah now writes freelance for newspapers and magazines, primarily on sustainability, and regularly chairs, moderates and speaks at events across the sector.

Kathy Slack is an award-winning cook, veg grower, and writer who transitioned from a career in advertising to a new life in the veg patch. Her debut cookbook, "From the Veg Patch," was named one of the Top 25 cookbooks of 2021 by Delicious magazine. Kathy's work includes hosting supper clubs, cookery demonstrations, and writing for various publications. She is also a supporter of sustainable farming and a mental health advocate.

Pinky Laing began by making bespoke velvet military jackets for pop stars after being taught to sew by her grandmother, but a bowel cancer diagnosis prompted a profound shift, leading her to found Remnant Revolution from a hospital bed in 2024. After studying sustainability and researching textile waste, she began transforming surplus fabrics into beautiful homeware while creating sewing opportunities that tackle isolation and unemployment among women. Today, she partners with brands, supports charities including Stroud Women’s Refuge and Furnishing Futures, and champions community-led making—most recently teaching over 250 women to sew at a BBC‑covered pop‑up in Cirencester—on a mission to get the country sewing with purpose.

Julian Parmiter is the founder and CEO of Create Academy, a UK‑based learning platform on a mission to build people’s creative confidence through expert‑led online courses. Before launching the business in 2019, Julian built a career in film and creative production, founding production companies including Ruined City Films and later Level Creative. With an academic background spanning Art History and Psychology, Julian brings a distinctive perspective to creative education — combining visual storytelling with an understanding of wellbeing and learning. This blend underpins Create Academy’s thoughtful, accessible approach to disciplines including interior design, gardening, floristry, food and craft.

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Opened in April 2023, Fortnum's Food & Drink Studio is a space dedicated to the search for extraordinary food and drink experiences.

Enjoy unmissable masterclasses and intimate dining experiences hosted by some of the world's best chefs. Live demonstrations led by major names in food and drink. Illuminating conversations with makers and creatives who share our passion for all things delicious. The chance to grab an apron and grow your own culinary skills with a little help from the experts.

For a full list of upcoming events visit: https://www.fortnumandmason.com/events

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Food & Drink Studio, 3rd Floor, Fortnum & Mason, Fortnum & Mason, London, United Kingdom

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