Witty classics fashioned from waste

Hurst's fantastic eco fashion show

As part of Hurstpierpoint College’s ‘Eco Hurst’ Green Initiative, Hurst’s Art Department led by Tiffany Farrell, launched an ambitious fashion project for all Year 9 pupils during the Michaelmas term and brought it to a conclusion with an extraordinary fashion show just weeks into the Lent term.

Pupils engaged in the project were helped and inspired by Lyla Patel, from Traid, a recycled fashion clothing company, who visited the school to talk about the realities of the fashion industry, the low paid but skilled workers upon which it depends and the industry’s impact on the environment. After her powerful presentation, she met a small focus group from the Shell and they were able to ask her more detailed questions. She also provided feedback on some of their ‘work in progress’, giving invaluable hints and tips about they might develop their ideas further in their quest to create practical yet fashionable clothing from recycled material.

During January, too, Ellie Behrens - an artist from Spectral Arts - delivered a workshop on Recycled Fashion. Ellie brought with her a vast array of everyday items that people usually give away or discard and demonstrated how they could be used to enhance both outfits and accessories.

The culmination of the project was a fashion show starring the pupils’ creations. Thirty four Year 9 students volunteered to model their outfits and, with only a little coaching, paced the catwalk in the College’s own Bury Theatre with professional ease. Over 300 parents, guests and pupils enjoyed the event, greeting each new outfit with gasps, applause and, on occasions, amusement.

“I was” said Tiffany Farrell “very impressed indeed by both the commitment and the sheer professionalism of our students. Their team-work throughout this project has been outstanding and their determination – as a Year Group – to mount an event that their friends and families would really enjoy, and learn from, was deeply impressive. Finally, I have to say that I am very proud of the way they have understood and embraced the green agenda that underpinned this initiative; I am sure that they will all think more carefully in the future about the way in which they use the earth’s finite resources.

Prizes were awarded to the following for their industry and creativity:

Most Elaborate Outfit: Joelle Banks and Fiona Burns
Innovation: Lottie Honour
Most Enthusiastic Designer/Maker: Zack Pinsent
Consistent Team Effort: Zinny Horner-Hill, Cameron Tubb, James Weir, Connor Andrews.
Best Use of Recycled Materials: Polly Sykes, Georgie Meredith, Emma McNally, Sophie Campbell