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!

Big Bum Fashion Fan: Deb Malkin

Who are you?

I am Deb Malkin, owner of Re/Dress NYC, a vintage and modern and resale clothing store for sizes 14 and up in Brooklyn, New York. I am also one of the founders of the Fat Girl Flea Market (Big Bum Note: this is the event that inspired the Big Bum Jumble).

What sort of things do you like to wear?

I call my style Utility-femme meets boobilicious. Which means I like clothing that's comfortable and yet form fitting, and shows off the 'girls'. Lately, I've been enjoying a bit of a femmed-up version of my 90s dyke style with my engineer boots and military jacket, but with skirts and dresses underneath instead of the old A-shirt and acid washed jeans, ew!

Whose style do you admire?

My staff, my customers, my friends, and Beth Ditto. I got inspired to wear my very first corset top at Nolose and I had a hoodie zipped so tight up you'd never know it was there. Then I saw a trio of super fat fairies with wings and wands and they were so free and comfortable with themselves that I unzipped that hoodie and never looked back.

Give us some fat fashion advice!

Stop wearing things too big. That's my biggest pet peeve. You're fat. Wearing clothing to hide your fat, isn't the same thing as an invisibility cloak. Experiment with shape, colour, style and find your fashion voice. And if need be, take things to a tailor and get them fitted to your shape, it will make you look like a person who's comfortable in their own skin, and that confidence is more flattering than anything.

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

It would just be my dream to go. Then it would be my dream to get to shop at an event like this, since I'm usually working it. Since my Chubster name is Rainbow Rotten, I would be thrilled to find something glittery and rainbowy.

What else would you like to say?

I'm so excited to see more cities and countries create their own versions of the Fat Girl Flea Market. It's an incredible way to shop. It's empowering, it creates community, it's green shopping, and it's really fun. And also a ton of work. So please folks don't forget to volunteer, give Kay a helping hand, and thank you to everyone who's been working so hard. I hope to see you at the 2012 Fattylympics.

Deb! We love you! Thank you for your visionary work! xxxxxx

Would you like to be featured here as a Big Bum Jumble fan? Drop us a line: bigbumjumble@gmail.com

Big Bum Fashion Fan: Vikki C.

Who are you?

I'm a queer femme scholar and performer, and also an aspiring rad fatty and burgeoning fat activist.

What sort of things do you like to wear?

I find great joy in wearing everything my mother always told me 'girls like me' can't get away with. That mostly consists of bright colours, prints, and revealing/tight stuff, currently expressed in an obsession with patterned leggings and those little tshirt-dress things. I also love Vans and other footwear oft sported by 14 year old boys, it's the Peter Pan tomboy in me that refuses to grow up.

Whose style do you admire?

Standard answer I know but I do adore Beth Ditto's ability to put an extraordinary outfit together. Amy Lamé is always impeccably turned out in a way I could never even aspire to. Also there's a certain quite famous queer theorist (who I cannot name for fear of embarrassment) whose sparkly jeans, bold glitter printed t-shirts and generally awesome daily disco wear has me in complete thrall.

Give us some fat fashion advice!

There is simply no such thing as too much. No, seriously.

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

I'm really hoping for some of the fabulous 50s dresses I always see other hot fat girls wearing but cannot seem to find in my size at a reasonable price. I'm also open to suggestion and intend to try on all sorts of crazy things I would normally never go for!

What else would you like to say?

Just that I am very excited about the Jumble, and I hope it sparks exchanges of ideas, actions and plans as well as clothes!

The photo of Vikki is by AbsolutQueer Photography.

PS Wanna be featured here? Of course you do! Drop us a line: bigbumjumble@gmail.com