Fashion students upcycle their way to the catwalk

In an innovative partnership between the fashion and clothing course at Warwickshire College and the Headway charity shop in Leamington Spa, students have been given hands-on experience of creating fashion out of materials that might otherwise have been thrown away.

Headway, the national charity that works to improve life after brain injury, has a shop in Regent Street in the town.  Staff from the shop offered the old t-shirts to the students for a small donation, and the students have used remnants and off-cuts to decorate and alter the original garments to dazzling effect

Course tutor, Sarah Beaman, said: “It’s really good for the students to work on a ‘live’ project like this.  It’s a really nice thing to do, and for many of the students this has been an exciting opportunity to produce their first ever garment.

“The students have come from a wide range of backgrounds and for some of them this is the first time that they have made a garment that can be worn.

“It’s come along at the perfect time in the course to encourage them to experiment with fabrics.  I think they’ve come up with some very inventive and innovative ideas.  They’ve turned something ordinary into something extraordinary.  I would really like to work with the charity again if possible.”

Shannon Robson, aged 17 from Kineton, says of her garment:  “I tried to make it colourful and unusual by using shirring elastic to make it more fitted.”

Chloe Larcher, aged 16 from Stratford-on-Avon, added: “I had not heard of the charity before but I think doing this has made me more aware that you can do these things and work with charities.  I definitely want to do it again in future.”

Belinda Marshall, manager of the Headway shop in Leamington, said: “We are thrilled to be working with such a creative group of young people. Charities these days are being far more innovative when it comes to running their shops and this is just another way in which we are making high-quality items available to our customers, while helping the students at the same time.

“The profits from all our shops, which are dotted across the east and west midlands, go directly to helping people rebuild their lives following brain injury. This is done through a number of groups and branches across the region that are supporting individuals and families, including Headway Coventry and Warwickshire. Indeed, it was their idea for this project, so we’re incredibly grateful to them.”

The students’ creations will feature in the college’s fashion show, which is due to be held at the Spa Centre in Leamington on 21 June.

For more information about the BTEC Diploma in Fashion & Clothing contact Liz Field or Sarah Beaman on 01926 318058.

For more information about Headway, or to find your local group or branch or Headway shop, visit http://www.headway.org.uk/. or to contact Headway Coventry and Warwickshire email headwaycw@aol.com

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