On Valentine's Day, a team of eleven, 12 to 15 year olds from Islington, put on their very own “Slow Fashion Show” to showcase over 40 creations they had designed and up-cycled from ex-military wear, unwanted cloth and discarded clothing.
The show was the culmination
of five months of after-school workshops, and part of our Kool Kouture programme.
The classes teach young people
simple techniques of up-cycling clothing, and motivate them to reuse as well as
help them acquire basic sewing and reconstructing skills.
If you have been following our FaceBook you will know that they have learnt to visualise,
create simple patterns, cut and sew straight seams, drape and embellish.
Since last October, they have made handbags, hoodie monsters, run their
own Christmas market stall to sell their creations, and put together a
collection for the Valentine’s Day fashion show.
Our young team took on make-up and hair,
modelling, styling, photography and hosting - with a little help from Thrifty
Couture. Our friends, London & Newcastle, gifted their amazing Project Space in trendy
Shoreditch for the show, and our collaborators, ReWorks, donated the
clothing and cloth.
The participants received
certificates documenting their achievements, and prizes appropriate to each age
group. These included a paid internship and a full apprenticeship with Thrifty
Couture for the older participants, as well as vouchers donated by ethical
fashion brand, People Tree.
For the
younger participants, Thrifty Couture gifted a sewing machine and books on
clothes recycling and slow fashion. Benefit Cosmetics in Islington, provided make-up,
and GetMoreFood supplied thte Valentine's Day refreshments.
