Æß²ÊÖ±²¥

Fashion students from Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Leicester (Æß²ÊÖ±²¥) have breathed new life into old objects as part of a sustainable fashion collaboration with Age UK.

 The ‘Refound’ project involved students from Æß²ÊÖ±²¥’s BA in Fashion Communication and Styling imagining and creating new futures for objects they found at the charity’s shop on Hotel Street in the city. The 11 students dressed the windows with the works they created.

Gemma Vincent is Senior Lecturer on the  Fashion Communication and Styling course and led the project. She said: “Age UK approached us and said they’d like to do something to get Gen Z involved in the whole idea of charity shopping, and sustainable fashion so we came up with this. We asked them to go into the Age UK shop, find some objects that resonated with them and start from there.”

Sophie Higgs’ piece was inspired by a kitsch 1970s cocktail glass she found in the shop and which reminded her of her grandmother's stories of wearing miniskirts as a young woman.

Sanya Ram, who is loving her course at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥, chose two unconnected items from among the treasures at Age UK - a seashell and an old photo album.

With them she told a new story of memory and nostalgia about estranged friends who remake their connection during a trip to the beach. In keeping with the sustainability theme of the project, Sanya chose to shoot the photographs for her work on the sandy shores of Rutland Water, rather than travel to sea.

To emphasise the importance of sustainability in fashion, the students also held a live styling event at the shop where they created stylish, on-trend outfits from the pre-loved items in stock.

Tony Donovan Executive Director of Age UK Leicester and Rutland, said: “We approached Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ in the hope that they would be interested to work with us on a collaborative project to support sustainable fashion and the great pre-loved items available in our charity shops.  We have been so pleased to work together on this project and to see Tony Donovan, the amazing designs that the students have created. It is truly inspiring.”