FASHION Retail students at BCoT took part in a garment upcycling workshop run by London-based stylist Sarah Cook.

The aim of the session was to create an up-to-date look with clothing purchased from local charity shops.

Students worked alongside their Art and Design peers to update their designs using a range of techniques, including fabric printing, embellishing and embroidery. They were also shown how to put coatings on garments and use basic sewing skills.

Miss Cook was impressed with the effort and enthusiasm shown by the students, saying “My purpose in this workshop was to push the students to explore their creativity and encourage them to see their garments as a concept rather than a finished product at this stage. We are also helping them to refine their ideas so they have a real vision of what they are working towards.

“This was a great opportunity for students to try something they’ve never done before and take them out of their comfort zone.”

One of the students taking part in the workshop was Emily Busby. She said: “I have really enjoyed taking something old and updating it by using zips and joining two other garments together for a whole new look. it’s great working with the Art and Design students as I’m learning lots of new skills from them, which I never thought I could do!”

Students will take part in several more workshops and by the end of the project will produce on-trend outfits ready to model at the fashion shows held at the college. Their work will also be judged by industry experts.

Sarah Gallagher, Fashion Retail lecturer at BCoT said: “This styling project offers fantastic opportunities for students to use their creativity and industry knowledge to create designs which consumers want to buy.

“Once they have completed their upcycled garments students will have the opportunity to organise their own photoshoot and sell their products in college or online.

“These new skills can then be used in the students’ final major project which decides the final grade on the Level 3 Diploma in Fashion Retail.

“The more skills the students can develop the more successful they will be in making the next step into the Level 4 Diploma in Fashion Retailing, which is a new and exciting course we have introduced to meet the growing needs of the fashion industry.”