The project led by Charlotte James and Clémentine Schneidermann involved a series of creative workshops with students from Jukebox Collective’s Academy, a programme supporting the next generation of Welsh creative talent. The students, ages 7 to 16 and primarily from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, took part in workshops on costume design, styling, photography, illustration, and art direction. These sessions encouraged an exploration of Welsh pride and identity, where students gained new creative skills like moodboarding, styling, and customization, leveraging their heritage as a guide for expression. Inspired by the iconic Welsh hat, dating back to the nineteenth century, the project used this national iconography as a creative launching point. Working with Welsh costume designer Ffian Jones, the students engaged in a hat creation workshop, modernising the traditional item by imbuing it with their unique creative and cultural influences. They also incorporated other elements of Welsh national dress into their costumes, such as the red woollen cloak, paisley shawl, and Pais a Betgwn.

Photography: Clémentine Schneidermann

Creative direction: Charlotte James

Costume designer: Ffian Jones

Styling assistant & hair: Sharon Kostini.

Photography workshops: Clémentine Schneidermann & Ashrah Suudy

Costume workshops: Ffian Jones

Styling workshops: Charlotte James, Sharon Kostini & Asma Elmi

Art direction/illustration workshops: Charlotte James

Illustrations and cast: Jukebox Academy:  Leila Alkhundary, Ellie Bannister, Chase Burrowes, Millie Campion, Quincy Chambers, Eithne Collier, Amiya Dwyer, Ayanna Hallam, Akeylah Hinton, Patricia Hrickova, Vlasta Hrickova, Latoya Kahari, Alicja Kowalska, Karim Mohamed, Khalis Mohamed, Tia Nelson, Blessing Oredola, Elizabeth Oredola, Genaya Parris, Aleisha Pocock, N’ziah Poleon, Rio Rodriques, Teaghan Scanlon, Sheighley Sky, Taleya Spettie, Lucia Tajul, Shellema Vale, Venice Williams, Monet Williams

With the kind support of: The Museum of Wales, Arts Council Wales, Jukebox Collective & Paul Hamlyn Foundation


Special thanks to all the dedicated participants and their families