Fashion / Bristol Fashion
A passion for fashion
Young people with a passion for fashion have been taught practical skills in upcycling, visual merchandising and styling with an aim to start a fashion portfolio.
The eight 16- to 25-year-old students either out of work or straight out of school took part in the Creative Careers fashion course based at The Station, an initiative organised by the Creative Youth Network (CYN).
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The students got to work alongside That Thing co-founder Louisa Jones, who inspired them to create amazing fashion items through upcycling old clothing, improving their skills and learning new techniques including tailoring and using sewing machines to create their designs.
“We love the way Louisa worked, her ideas and knowledge of fashion design,” said student Zoe Macafee. “We learned so much on the course.”
CYN creative learning coordinator Phoebe Langton-Beck said that the course may only last a short period of time, but it gives students a chance to see if they like what they are doing, increases their confidence and improves their skills.
The brief for the course was to upstyle a piece of clothing by embellishing or taking away fabric to create another garment, creating new designs using applique techniques. The students also got to style up the garments and model for a street style photo shoot with local independent photographer James Pettitt.
The creations and look created by the students ranged from streetwear inspired crop tops, sports tops chopped and embellished with frills, clashed up with printed trousers and shorts, customised denim pieces, upcycled knitwear and lace embellished skirts all styled up in a contemporary street style look that oozes Bristol style.
Student Keisha Pellecuer said: “I was influenced by Alexander Wang as I really like his style. I would like to work in the fashion industry!”
For more information on Creative Youth Network and creative careers courses in Bristol, visit www.creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/creative-courses
Photography by James Pettitt and Zoe Macafee
Read our Fashion Editor Emma Gorton-Ellicott’s blog No Debutante