First pics in, better ones to come

I took some poor quality pictures, which seems to be a trend for me. Anyway, they give you a tiny idea of what it's like. There are no pictures here for the fashion show because I was in it. Better pics will come soon, and if you took photographs we'd love to see them. Sorry about the cheesy captions, I couldn't resist.

Arriving with bags o' Jumble

Tom finds a treat

Bill's beautiful signage

Time for a quick rummage before it all kicks off

Getting ready for a stint at the station

Two pounds please, and would you like a badge?

Loading up the Denim Bar

Nearly there

Jumble!

Jumblers doing what they do best

Ooh la la corsetry

T-shirts and denim are popular

Busy times at the check-out

The Bops keep everyone'e energy up with their righteous sounds

Just one last pick-through

All done, time to go home

5 reasons why you should come to the Big Bum Jumble

Like you need an excuse.

1. The clothes
If you are fat you will find clothes that will fit you and make you look fantastic, and all for cheap too. If you are fat you will know that this rarely happens, plus-sized clothes are usually overpriced and difficult to find. So many different styles and types of clothes have been donated that you are bound to find something you like. You won't have to pinch yourself, you will not be dreaming.

2. The atmosphere
We've been working hard to make the Jumble a friendly, welcoming, playful place for everyone. There will be music, refreshments, a fashion show, stalls, and countless opportunities to try things on, make friends, or drink tea. It's going to be lovely!

3. The Rad Fatties
You want to know where you can meet rad fatties in the UK? Perhaps you want to find Your People. They will be here.

4. The culture
By coming to the Big Bum Jumble, you will be supporting future projects like it. Anyone of any size can do this. The Big Bum Jumble organisers want to help create and develop non-profit communities and events that support fat pride, Health At Every Size, Fat Studies, fat activism, fatshion, and body liberation in general. We want to have fun whilst we're doing it. We think this stuff is really worthwhile and can help us all live good lives.

5. The politics
We're not interested in shoving our politics down anyone's face, you can take them or leave them and it's fine if you want to come along and buy a jumper and let that be it.

However, we also think that fashion is political; we're interested in how clothes are made and sold, who buys them, how they are bought and why, and the affiliate industries that support the fashion business. We want to see these ideas develop. Big Bum Jumble is about messing around with clothes, a pleasure that is often denied fat people, and we think that getting together and concocting a feast of second hand clothes is a way of disrupting destructive beliefs such as the idea that only some people can look great or are worthy. We want people of all sizes to feel good in their bodies, playing with clothes helps you do that, and it's easy to take a fashion risk at the Jumble because everything is so cheap. We also think that it's better for the environment to reuse and recycle things, including the stuff we wear, and that it helps us create alternatives to consumerism. So there.

Please come!

Look What Came In: A Bit of Ooh-La-La

We've got woolly, we've got hip, we've got far out, we've got girly, we've got glittery, and we've got madness, we've even got major nappage. Now we've got slinky too. Every kind of fatshion is represented at the Big Bum Jumble. Yes, that's a boast.

This slip will fit up to about a size 24-26 and also works as a skirt.

Who's gonna get it? See you on the 14th to find out.

Jade's Things

Jade's going to be having a stall at the Big Bum Jumble selling pretty dresses. Although she's currently in the middle of moving house, and "mostly getting in a tizz over bubble wrap this week," she took some time to tell us what she's got.

"The dresses are mix of high street, vintage and charity shop finds. They range from sizes 12-26, but they all fit me happily and I'm a size 22, which is testament to the fact that you should never trust sizing labels (if you see something you like, try it on, make it work!). My favourite piece is the full length black satin skirt with a diamanté corsage and I've also got a really kitsch Grease jumper, baby pink with quilt and pearl appliqué, which deserves a new owner."

"All of my clothes are really precious and I would not be selling them if I could wear them myself - so I hope somebody else can give them a good home! Most of my dresses will be sold for £5 with a couple of special things at £10, but there'll be nothing more expensive than that."

Jade will also be bringing cupcakes and her boyfriend to the Jumble, hehhehe.

Would you like to have a stall at the Big Bum Jumble? Rates are very reasonable. Get in touch: bigbumjumble@gmail.com

Big Bum Fashion Fan: Amy Lamé

Who are you?

I am Amy Lamé, and a huge fan of the Big Bum Jumble gang. I'm originally from New Jersey, hence my penchant for big hair, high heels and fast cars. I've been a Londoner for nearly 18 years.

Amongst other things I co-founded and host Duckie every Saturday night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I also co-host the afternoon show on BBC London 94.9 alongside fellow tubbster Danny Baker. I pop up occasionally on TV and write for various newspapers, but generally I prefer to spend my time listening to The Smiths and crocheting. Oh, and drinking sherry with my girlfriend.

What sort of things do you like to wear?

I'm a girly girl, so I wear mostly dresses and skirts, though if I do occasionally wear jeans on a Saturday afternoon they have to have wide turn ups.

I have an eclectic collection of clothes that cross boundaries of stage and street wear, from 18th century inspired handmade gowns, to 70s American polyester house dresses, to punky cashmere from Anna Scholz. I am most influenced by the '50s and '60s, and in the past made quite a few of my own retro style dresses - as we all know plus size vintage is rarer than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Now I have an adorable seamstress who makes lovely creations for me.

I am addicted to accessories and drive my girlfriend crazy with bracelets/earrings/hairbands/fascinators etc scattered all over our flat (but I think she secretly loves it 'cause she keeps buying me lots of gorgeous accoutrements!) I have lots of vintage specs with my own prescription put in to match different outfits. I think coordination is a much underrated style statement, and I like to think of myself as never knowingly underdressed.

Whose style do you admire?

My Nan, Ruth, has been my style inspiration since I was a teenager; I was always plundering her jewellery box and wardrobe for scarves, beads, hats, handbags... She's 92 and still the most stylish woman I know, she has an amazing collection of flat caps, fedoras and clip-on earrings.

Give us some fat fashion advice!

If you've got it, flaunt it! Stick a belt/bow/brooch on your chub rolls and claim it! Revel in your rotundity, and delight in being a chubby glamourpuss.

What would be your dream find at the Big Bum Jumble?

All the stuff my Nan has ever sent to the charity shop before I could get to it!! Other than that, a selection of glittery heels in size 8 wide would be brilliant.

What else would you like to say?

Rock on Big Bum Jumble! And in the words of fellow fattie homosexualist Luther Vandross (RIP)...NEVER TOO MUCH!!!

PS Check out AmyLamé.com

Wanna make like Amy and be featured here as a Big Bum Fashion Fan? Yes you do! Drop us a line at bigbumjumble@gmail.com

In Californiay? Head along to this!

Cupcakes and Muffintops
Clothing and Bake Sale

9 August 2009
Midday - 4pm
Humanist Hall, 390 27th St, midtown Oakland, CA

A size-positive, gender inclusive Fat Clothing Flea and Bake Sale where only the prices are small! Clothes sizes L and up, up, up! Butch, femme, men's, women's... and tasty treats, too! Clothes $2-$7/per item. $5 door fee (applicable toward any clothing purchase). All proceeds to benefit Big Moves Bay Area and NOLOSE.

For more information or to donate clothes contact cindy@bigmoves.org, matilda@bigmoves.org or CupcakesandMuffintops@gmail.com.

Unsold clothing will be donated to area shelters after the sale.

Exclusive! Unskinny Bop's Fatshion Top Ten

C'mon everybody, it's The Bop this weekend.

Ruth and Tamsin, the people in charge of Unskinny Bop, always manage to keep everybody dancing all night. They'll be providing the music at the Big Bum Jumble too. I asked them to give us their Fatshion Top Ten and they obliged. Look 'em up, stick them on the turntable and move on down.

1. Are You Feeling Fashionable by Help She Can't Swim
2. Slip In Mules by Sugar Pie De Santo
3. Hoodie by Lady Sovereign
4. Vans by The Pack
5. Fashion Pack by Amanda Lear
6. P.V.C. by Kenickie
7. Let Me Fix My Weave by Missy Elliot
8. Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That by Dolly Parton
9. Pencil Skirt by Pulp
10. L'homme à la Moto by Edith Piaf

Tamsin says: "Sequencing could do with a bit of work! Unfortunately it's not all on Spotify or we'd have made a playlist... The Vans song is pure comedy, it got the nod over My Adidas due to the fashion preferences chez Bop rather than on musical merit."

God they're cool.

Look What Came In: Ace Smiley Top

Here's Kay modelling one of the top picks from the Big Bum Jumble donations pile, a super-cute XL smiley sweatshirt. No one can be glum in a top like this. Who will walk away with it on 14 August? It could be you!

Thank you mystery donator.

Big Bum Jumble Press Release

For Immediate Release - please spread this info far and wide!

The Big Bum Jumble
Saturday 14 August 2010, 12-5pm
Stratford Circus
Theatre Square
London E15 1BX
www.stratford-circus.com

Contact:

bigbumjumble@gmail.com
www.bigbumjumble.blogspot.com

The Big Bum Jumble, where Fatshion in the UK takes an ethical turn

The Big Bum Jumble is landmark fatshion event selling low-cost second-hand and vintage clothes in sizes XL+. It will take place on 14 August 2010 in London's East End, and will comprise a traditional jumble sale, a catwalk show and other activities, as well as the chance to participate in a film of the event.

Kay Hyatt, its principle organiser, is a fat activist who often struggles to find clothes to fit. Knowing that other people were in the same position, she decided to do something about it after attending a similar event in the US. Kay explains: "I was impressed by the celebratory atmosphere, the friendliness, the sense of community and, of course, the excellent fashion. It was like jumping into a giant dressing-up box. I wanted to bring that feeling home.

Kay says: "Fashion can be creative and playful, it can help you feel really good about yourself. I think this should be available to everyone regardless of size or background." She adds: "Although The Big Bum Jumble is a sale, it's also anti-consumerist, all about reusing and recycling, and it has a DIY-culture ethic of making something out of the resources available to you."

"The situation is improving but, unless you can afford the high-end stuff, plus-sized fashion is often limited to poor quality, overpriced and ethically-dubious products sold by companies who see fat people as self-hating, desperate consumers. We deserve better."

Notes for editors
The Big Bum Jumble is a fundraiser for further fat activist community events in the UK, including the proposed 2012 Fattylympics.

Clean, plus-sized donations are welcome on the day, just bring them along. For larger amounts, please get in touch with the organisers to arrange a pick-up.

High resolution images are available for download:
Big Bum Jumble Logo (b+w) 2.9mb
Kay Hyatt (col) 21.4mb

The Big Bum Jumble has been partially funded by The Fat of The Land: A Queer Chub Harvest Festival, which took place in London on 3 October 2009. Please visit that event's blog for more information: http://queerchub.blogspot.com

Fatshionista is a term coined by American fat activist Amanda Piasecki in 2004. For more on Fatshion, see: www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/jan/30/fat-fashion-blogs

BBJ on The Pocket Rocket

Wheee, check out Kay on The Pocket Rocket!