Soho, Saville Row and China Town: Dr Manrutt Wongkaew walks with Carole Morrison

In this walk, Dr. Manrutt Wongkaew leads Carole Morrison and Gemma Riggs on an autobiographical walk from the now closed LCF building at John Princes St though Saville Row to Soho and China Town. We hear about Manrutt’s experiences as a tailor in Saville Row and how he embraces colour in his own fashion styling as a rebellion against conformity. Manrutt shares his stories of community in Soho that have informed his practice as a lecturer and his approach that allows students to bring their authentic selves to the learning environment.

Walking route: from John Princes Street to Lisle Street, China Town.

Images referenced during the walk:

Image 01: We meet at LCF John Princes Street, where Manrutt takes a picture each year as moment of reflection of who is he is.

Image 02: Outside the former LCF building at John Princes Street, where Manrutt takes a picture each year as moment of reflection. This image was taken in September 2019.

Image 03: Outside the former LCF building at John Princes Street, where Manrutt takes a picture each year as moment of reflection. This image was taken in September 2020.

Manrutt during a ‘Better Lives’ lecture at UAL exploring empathy and storytelling

A picture in two halves - night time scenes in soho with neon lights. There are two women in the image

References:

Better Lives – a lecture series at UAL exploring empthy and Stoytelling

The Body Keeps the Score

Biographies:

Dr. Manrutt Wongkaew

Dr. Manrutt (Manny) Wongkaew is an academic and practitioner with a doctorate in fashion and dance. His interdisciplinary career spans research, creative practice, industry leadership, and pedagogical innovation. Drawing on academic backgrounds in fashion, dance performance, and art psychotherapy, his work is underpinned by a commitment to inclusivity, compassion, and emotional authenticity.

With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Wongkaew’s practice-led research engages with politically charged and emotionally resonant themes, exploring identity, resilience, and wellbeing through visual and performative mediums. His creative work has been featured in leading industry publications such as Vogue.com, British GQ, Elle India, Fucking Young, and Kaltblut, and on platforms including The Guardian and the Photographer’s Gallery. He has delivered a TEDx talk on resilience and was interviewed by the BBC for Queer Britain series. His community-engaged practice includes collaborations with organisations such as Oxfam, East London Dance, and the V&A. He facilitates applied fashion styling workshops as therapeutic interventions, which reach diverse groups including children in care, individuals with learning disabilities, and male inmates. Notable projects include a drag workshop at Dovegate Prison and the “Finding Your Inner Diva” workshop at the V&A’s Friday Late – Diva Disrupted event.

Dr. Wongkaew is currently a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Styling and Production at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London. His teaching and research explore fashion as a medium for emotional expression and social impact. His innovative pedagogical framework, Healing Pedagogies, advocates for transformative education centred on wellbeing, kindness, and authenticity, with a focus on affective learning and the therapeutic potential of art. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Arts (with Distinction) from the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE) and is a member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) UK.
His philosophy, “Life in full colours”, reflects his commitment to honest, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, research, and collaboration. Dr. Wongkaew is based between the UK and Thailand and welcomes academic and creative partnerships aligned with his values and areas of expertise.