Cambrensis X Magnetic: ‘Genoa’ Exhibition Recap
Written by Rhys Friedli
Published Thursday 12th March 2026
Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Cambrensis blog.
To start today’s post, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended our ‘Genoa’ exhibition on the 27th of February at the London Welsh Centre during London Fashion Week. The event celebrated Wales Week London and, of course, showcased our ‘Genoa’
We are incredibly proud to have presented our brand in such a unique and exciting way, blending Welsh culture with the fashion community that has become so prevalent in modern London. It was important for us to bring a small part of Wales with us for our first event away from home.
Our venue layout included an in-depth exhibition on the history of Cambrensis garments, from our very first jacket all the way through to our upcoming release, which attendees were able to see exclusively for the first time. We also hosted a panel talk where we discussed all aspects of the brand, our collaboration, and our brand-new short film, which premiered on the night.
All in all, it was a hugely successful evening for us as a brand. We were so pleased to meet many new faces interested in our identity and storytelling, while also welcoming long-time supporters, friends of Cambrensis, and many industry professionals.
We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to our event sponsors, whose support played a massive role in making the evening possible. Without their help, we would not have been able to create such a detailed and successful event. A huge thank you to Aspire Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Penderyn Distillery, Penhill Jones Property, and GRJ Interiors Ltd.
As part of the evening, we premiered our ‘Genoa’ fashion film, celebrating 150 years of Italian heritage in Wales. The film was shot primarily at Viazzani's Station Cafe. Viazzani’s is the longest-standing Italian-run café in Merthyr Tydfil and represents a strong sense of community, from its loyal long-time customers to its incredibly friendly staff and owner, Mario, who even makes his own special appearance in the film.
The film portrays an average day in the life of young people living in a Welsh Valleys town, capturing the beautiful yet contrasting scenery of the streets of Merthyr. It also references everyday Valleys life, from a quick visit to the local corner shop to a stop at the café for a drink and a conversation with a friend. 
The film features a heartfelt narration by Donna Edwards, who speaks about her own experience of growing up in her hometown and even spending a couple of years working in Viazzani’s, an unplanned but brilliant detail that only further strengthens the authenticity of the film. She also reflects on her life after moving away, including starring roles in popular TV dramas such as Pobl y Cwm and Gavin & Stacey.
The film highlights the importance of strong community and togetherness in towns like Merthyr, the feeling of belonging and a true sense of home, while hopefully shedding a new light on a place that is so often misrepresented in the media.
We are delighted to announce that our short film will be available to view on YouTube and our website from the 15th of March at 6pm. We cannot wait for everyone to see the result of all the hard work that went into the project, and we hope the film means as much to our followers as it does to us.
Diolch yn fawr - Thanks for reading