Skip to main content
About us
  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. About us
  3. Sustainability
  4. Get Involved
  5. Climate Action Week
  6. Climate Action Week 2026
  7. Full Schedule

The Wonder of Wool – Telling Stories of Climate Action with Textile Animation

When: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: The Yurt , Mile End

Speaker: Jessica Jacobs

Through creative group work, participants will design and animate short stop-motion films using felted wool characters.

Fast fashion and plastic-based textiles are a major contributor to waste and microplastic pollution. In the UK, less than 1% of textile waste is recycled into new clothing, with most ending up in landfill or incineration. Many everyday fabrics are made from fossil fuels and cannot biodegrade — with long-term consequences for ecosystems and biodiversity.

This hands-on workshop explores wool as a natural alternative. Wool is renewable, biodegradable, breathable, and long-lasting — and plays an important role in rethinking how we produce and use textiles.

Through creative group work, participants will design and animate short stop-motion films using felted wool characters. You’ll begin by developing a simple storyboard around climate action, before learning needle-felting techniques to create characters and bring them to life through animation.

This workshop blends creativity, sustainability, and storytelling — no prior experience needed. All equipment provided.

You will gain: 

  • A clearer understanding of the environmental impact of plastic-based textiles

  • Insight into wool as a sustainable, reusable material

  • Storytelling and storyboarding skills

  • Hands-on needle felting experience

  • Introduction to stop-motion animation using smartphones (devices provided)

  • Opportunities to collaborate, network, and create together

SDGs supported: 

  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals 

Back to top