Here’s What Happened at Summer School
Here’s What Happened at Summer School
Our summer school was created to give students the opportunity to throw themselves into learning about what they love, without the financial barriers that usually follow. Partnering with Fashion Retail Academy, students from the ages of 14-17 had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals who work at ASOS, Fred Perry, FARFETCH. They discussed subjects from styling to marketing to creating visual displays and designing with upcycling in mind, leaving students with transferable skills for their future.
Scarlett, Will and Ebun are just three of the 30 diverse students who had the opportunity to attend this free 3 day programme. Speaking to them, it is clear that not only did they come away with more knowledge and experience, but they came away with confidence in themselves and their ideas.
To find out more about the programme and what it could be like for you, we asked these students a few questions about their designs, the process, what they learned and how the programme helped them get there.
Scarlett:
What was the experience of Summer School like?
I loved it because I’d never had a chance like this before. I’m from the Midlands near Derby and don’t often find opportunities like this there, so we went to London for three days, and it was amazing. I learned a lot that I can apply in my everyday life, especially in photography, which I do at school.
Could you talk us through the mood board you created?
I wanted to dive into it because I’m really into making connections and stuff. Plus, I’ve got a thing for the 80s and 90s fashion vibes like Versace and Vivienne Westwood. So, I came across these materials and this whole vision started clicking in my head – corsets, bold jewellery, and those vintage-style gems. I wanted something with that old-school feel that could get a fresh twist.
How was the design process?
I initially considered using various animal prints, but when I examined the dead stock, there wasn’t much besides some tunic-like old shirts. I decided to chop off the sleeves and use other colours too. As for the fabric scraps, I thought they could work for a patchwork skirt, although that turned out to be quite challenging.
What kind of advice did you receive?
Daniel taught me how to use the machine and that was amazing. I had thought I wanted to go into the business side of fashion because I didn’t have any practical skills, but that’s completely changed now.
Ebun:
What was the experience of Summer School like?
I found it really interesting, there was so much variety of people to learn from, a designer, someone from marketing, and someone from social media marketing too.
The activities focused on upcycling were challenging at points but the teachers were really supportive, they never made you feel like you were silly for not knowing how to do something.
Could you talk us through the mood board you created?
Looking through a magazine, I found a page that focused on traditional Nigerian clothing. This
became the core of my project. I also discovered materials related to African culture, which struck a chord with my Nigerian background. Traditional African mosque designs and themes of the broader black experience caught my eye.
How was the design process?
I found a great stack of material and initially thought of making a skirt, but one piece wasn’t wide enough. So, I used another piece from the pile. Originally, I wanted additional African fabric but settled for Blue Lace, common in Nigerian clothing. I incorporated it throughout the top and pants. For the top, I added dots to imitate a headwrap and represented knowledge. The lace appeared in both the maxi and top, and buttons added a finishing touch.
What kind of advice did you receive?
Suzanne and Deborah suggested jotting down ideas and sketching my design, clarifying my direction. Watching them work, I realised I wasn’t satisfied with my finishing touches, but Daniel reassured me, emphasising my progress was great, and time was flexible for adjustments, boosting my confidence.
Will:
What was the experience of Summer School like ?
I didn’t know what to expect going in, but it was a great opportunity to speak to professionals in the industry. Just being in a creative environment where everyone is so passionate about fashion is a first for me. It was really amazing, just to be amongst those people.
Could you talk us through the mood board you created?
I kept an open mind, scanning magazines until a picture of a woman in a long, flowing red dress stuck out to me. That was my starting point, inspiring my design to have vibrant colours, red and orange hues. Another key focus was upcycling a bikini and integrating it into the dress while incorporating different materials. This led me to explore nature and floral themes, and this is where the buttons and lacing of the bikini come into play within the dress.
How was the design process?
I discovered that working in an environment with materials and people offering advice made the process much easier and more enjoyable than doing it at home. It was particularly fulfilling because I’m not naturally self-motivated, and being in a dedicated workspace where the project was the focus helped me produce work I wouldn’t have been able to create otherwise.
What kind of advice did you receive?
I was reminded to keep focusing on upcycling because that was the theme of the project. And that was one thing that I actually had never done before. They were happy to listen to my ideas, and then just improve them from there rather than suggesting new things or like shutting down ideas that I had.
If this sparked your interest either as a student, parent or teacher and you’d like to find out more, follow us on Instagram for updates on our next programme, hopefully coming next half-term!
