The project was run by Metropolitan Housing alongside the V&A Museum.
Young people in Lambeth celebrated in style after taking part in an opportunity to work alongside a fashion designer at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Residents from Metropolitan Housing took inspiration from the V&A’s vast collection during a free summer Upcycle Course where designer Juliana Sissons encouraged them to transform unwanted clothes into new designs.
Participants were taught design, pattern cutting, sewing, printing and marketing skills to produce a new collection of t-shirts for HustleBucks, a youth design agency who sold the garments at their shop in Brixton Village.
Outfits created from sustainably sourced t-shirts and fabric were then exhibited during a celebration at the museum.
Ufeli Ani, 20, one of the young people who took part in the course said she was delighted at what she had acheived.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity and I am immensely grateful to everyone who helped me see my design concepts through to fruition,” she said.
“I started this course with a few rusty sewing skills and I leave with a collection of t-shirts that I can be proud of and a network of extremely talented friends that I am equally proud of.
“One of my early career ambitions was to be a fashion designer and I’ve had a business idea centred around corporate fashion. These four weeks have given me a real insight into design and I have enjoyed every second.”
David Judd, Creative Projects Manager at the V&A, said that it was fascinating to see how the young people used the museum’s collection as inspiration for their designs.
“They had to learn so many skills in a short time to realise their designs,” he said.
“This course has given them insights into the creative and commercial sides of the fashion industry.”
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