Rahemur Rahman

Rahemur Rahman is a designer, artist, and educator dedicated to creating art that challenges the creative industry's norms while uplifting marginalised communities. With a background in East London, his work is shaped by his experiences as a working class British-Bangladeshi, queer Muslim navigating systemic barriers. He is passionate about sustainability, inclusivity, and decolonising fashion, collaborating with artisans in Dhaka, Bangladesh, through Aranya Crafts to elevate subcontinental craftsmanship.

As Joint First Year Leader for the BA Hons Fashion Design pathway at Central Saint Martins, Rahemur Rahman uses his expertise and his PGCert in Curriculum Design to shape the next generation of creative leaders. His work spans fashion, film, and community-driven art, including notable inclusion in exhibitions such as Fashioning Masculinities at the Victoria and Albert Museum, My Home, Creative Design and Production Lead for My Bari at the Museum of the Home, and Brave New Worlds at Somerset House part of the International Fashion Showcase by the British Council. Rahman has been nominated for the Changemaker Prize by the British Fashion Council and presented his fashion collections at London Fashion Week.

Rahemur’s approach is deeply rooted in social justice, working to close the gap in creative career access for young people and women from marginalised communities. His art and fashion are about more than aesthetics—they are a call for change and a reminder that the fight for a just world is ongoing.

Sarah Doyle is an accomplished artist with a talent for bringing creativity to life in community projects. After ten years in early education, she pursued her passion for art, first as a successful cake artist creating bespoke designs and intricate sugar models. In 2019, Sarah’s design for the Tilbury Carnival flag sparked her love for batik and silk flag-making, leading to her collaboration with Kinetika. In just 18 months with Kinetika, Sarah has played a key role in major projects, including T100 Festival Mandalas, Grays Community Flags, Carnival Gold, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant and Beach of Dreams. Her ability to translate community stories into vibrant, meaningful art has made her an integral part of these initiatives, earning her recognition for her creativity and dedication.

About the partners

T100 is a year-round walking, talking and making programme that encourages multiple stories to surface in Thurrock. T100 continues to grow each year, gaining new activities and events, new walkers, new routes and new partners to support the programme. What began as a walking celebration of Thurrock – 10 miles, 10 walks, 10 days, has developed into an

outdoor arts festival stretching along and across the estuary into Southend and Kent, hence the name T100. Over the last ten years, T100 has travelled on a journey with a growing team of local volunteers, one year spontaneously building the theme for the next, all the time drawing more people in through a range of arts activities. T100: Our River is the 2025 festival.

Estuary Festival shines a spotlight on the Thames Estuary region through high-quality contemporary arts programmes that celebrate the stories, places and people of the Thames Estuary. Estuary 2025 (21-29 June) focuses on the water itself with a contained and focused programme that explores and engages in-depth. Taking the theme of ‘Vessels’ the festival looks beyond the boats and ships that move in and out of the Thames Estuary, to think about the festival as a vessel for creative action and explore ideas relating to estuary people and the more-than-human beings that live here as holders of ideas, stories, memories and hopes for the future.

Start Thurrock is a 'Creative People and Places' programme funded by Arts Council England. We work in partnership with the people of Thurrock to help you choose, produce and take part in brilliant arts and cultural experiences on your doorstep.

Participating Sewing Groups:

Inspire (East London); Kite Spirit (Purfleet); Leigh Three (Leigh-on-Sea); North Kent College – Art and Fashion Students (Dartford); Red Hot Stitchers (Shoebury); Seevic – USP College – Fashion Students (Benfleet); Subrang Arts (South London); YM Workshops (Purfleet).

Costume:

Sarah Doyle and South Essex College Costume Construction Students

Photo of the artist by Laisul Hoque. Project Image: Threads for Tomorrow Workshop, North Kent College, Rahemur Rahman_Beach of Dreams Photo by Anne Tetzlaff.