Meltdown Talks: Fashion Journeys
Join Tolu Coker, Foday Dumbuya and Feben, along with host Sienna King, to talk all things fashion, from breaking into the industry to building community within it.
Come along for a fascinating discussion and insider tips on overcoming barriers in your career, and advice on staying true to yourself while getting where you want to be.
Tolu Coker is a British-Nigerian fashion designer and multidisciplinary artist known for her storytelling through sustainable design. A Central Saint Martins graduate, she launched her eponymous label in 2021 after working with brands like Maison Margiela and Celine. Her work fuses Yoruba heritage with contemporary tailoring, often exploring identity, culture, and community. Celebrated for her innovative approach, Coker is a finalist for the 2025 LVMH Prize.
Foday Dumbuya is a designer and creative director, and the founder of the luxury clothing brand LABRUM. His work is deeply rooted in cultural storytelling, and he uses his designs as a platform to celebrate identity, heritage, and the transformative power of self-expression.
Feben is an Ethiopia-born, London-based designer, who grew up in Sweden. She founded her brand after completing her MA at Central Saint Martins as an Isabella Blow Scholar. Feben takes a distinctive and surrealistic approach to prints, drape and the female form, inspired by her diverse background.
Born and raised in London to artistic parents, Sienna King is a bold and multifaceted creative making her mark across fashion and film. She has walked for iconic houses including Vivienne Westwood and Simone Rocha, and collaborated with visionaries like Nick Knight, Rafael Pavarotti, Ib Kamara, Maximilian Davis, and Hugo Comte.
Need to know
This event is free, but ticketed. Seating is unallocated and tickets don’t guarantee entry: admission is on a first-come, first-served basis for those with tickets. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.