Fashioning a Greener Future: Burnley College Students Showcase Sustainable Designs in Fashion Competition
Three creative Burnley College Sixth Form Centre Students are combining their textile skills with style and sustainability as they compete to win a prestigious fashion competition.
The Gawthorpe Fashion Challenge sees teams create, photograph and present fashion concepts around a theme, which this year is upcycling and sustainability.
Finlay Maguire, 17, from Bacup, Eloise Crossley, 18, from Burnley and Jasmine Du Plessis, 17, from Hebden Bridge, have already finished their pieces after a week of intensive work in Burnley Market Hall and are preparing for a photoshoot.
The results will then be complied into a magazine before judging by a team of industry experts takes place in October.
A Level Textiles student and former Calder High School pupil Jasmine said:
The opportunity to do something I love and enjoy so much outside of term time is so exciting, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet and work with industry experts.
The week is providing me with incredible new skills and will really help with my application to study Costume Design at university after my A Levels!
Jasmine Du Plessis models her sustainable design
Nicole McHugh, Lecturer of Art, Design and Fashion at Burnley College Sixth Form Centre says the theme has really inspired the Students:
“Finlay who is studying A Level Art and Design has chosen to work with pattern cutter Kirsteen McGregor, who is an expert with more than 20 years’ experience as a Garment Technologist and is a specialist in natural fibres and dyes.
“They are working through a Japanese style using natural and sustainable dying process and techniques.
“Eloise, who is studying her Advanced Vocational Art and Design qualification, is working with paisley prints is looking to the middle east for her inspirations.”
All the students are really passionate about creating exciting, innovative patterns and shapes in fashion while simultaneously thinking about how to ensure a future for the fashion industry through sustainability.
Finlay Maguire designed this sustainable outfit
The competition is an annual event organised by the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, an internationally renowned collection of global textiles located in Padiham, Super Slow Way, a cultural development programme developing social spaces where people can express their own cultural identities and celebrate creativity, and British Textile Biennial, a Pennine based charity dedicated to creativity, innovation and expression in textiles.
Nicole says the experience for the Students is invaluable:
“It is a brilliant opportunity for the students to take part in something like this as it gives them vast experience within the industry sector of fashion and design; working with designers and pattern cutters will really help with their technical skills and confidence.
“Working to a brief created through industry provides students with realistic expectations of industry standards.
“It’s also a chance to enhance their creative developments and critical thinking processes.
“I wish them all the success and I’m confident this will further inspire them to pursue their passions and become the ultimate creatives!”
At Burnley College Sixth Form Centre we work alongside industry, with the most passionate Tutors and on a cutting-edge Campus to ensure you get the opportunities to work with experts and experience what working in your dream career will be like.
If you want to explore your passions, learn more: www.burnley.ac.uk