Fashion Lab London

Teenage Fashion Lab: Sample your own Sustainable Summer Collection!

The teenagers will learn basic pattern cutting skills from a bodice, sleeve, trouser and skirt block- to learn how to pattern cut their own specific designs. They will design their own mini Spring/Summer collection inspired by the sustainable dead-stock fabric donated from designers such as Alexander McQueen, merged with their own aesthetic and personal style and experiences! They will then have the chance to make up these! Starting with one specific garment, they will use the various techniques learnt to make this ‘sample’ up as a real fashion designer would! Specific technical skills and textile techniques will be woven into the lesson plans, using tutor demonstrations, presentations and tasks, which they then choose to use in their own collection and garment. Week 1: Learn to Pattern cut! The students will be shown how to pattern cut variations of Tops and Sleeves. Start designing, with examples of fashion design and development.

Week 2: Learn to Pattern cut! The students will be shown how to pattern cut variations of Tops and Sleeves. Develop designing.

Week 3: Learn to Pattern cut! More developed pattern cutting. Finalising developments of mini collection.

Week 4: MiniCollection Illustration Week

Week 5: Finalise any previous work, and their own illustrated mini collection. Decide on garment to make, and start with the chosen block.

Week 6-12: Pattern cutting, sewing chosen garment.

The tutor will advise the student the whole way through on their own specific project, giving them inspiration and specific and personal technical demonstrations,

whilst learning more universal sewing skills. Some of the specific skills included (tasks, tutor demonstrations and presentations): Rolled hem, Invisible zip, Standard Zips, Different machine feet, Collars, Pockets, Basic Pattern Cutting, Fly Zip, Cuffs, Heat Pressing, how to cut fabrics, choosing the right needle for specific fabrics.

FASHION LAB ONLINE

From the exciting, creative spheres of fashion to the teenagers bedroom/ study, the students will learn how to use basic pattern cutting skills, looking at adapting the bodice, skirt and trouser block to create their own original summer garment. Alongside this they will be introduced to current designers and creatives for inspiration, merging this with their own personal style and aesthetic, with sustainability always at the forefront. We will encourage using what they have at home, up cycling and being creative without giving in to fast fashion! Suitable and tailored to the teenager, whether you have been with us at the Fashion School and want to advance your skills in pattern making and sewing, or you are a complete beginner, your tutor will talk to the group as a whole but also there will be independent time where your tutor will come round and help each teen with their own specific needs and ideas. The teens are shown vibrant inspiring presentations, with warm up videos of industry professionals and creatives, whether that be in their studio, on the catwalk or being interviewed on Caroline’s podcast ‘Get Down and Get With It’. On top of this, there is further reading and exciting videos to watch in their own time should they be interested, all with a sustainable approach to fashion. A sewing machine is required. Specific material needs will be sent in advance to the lesson, and

sometimes digital content will need to

be printed.

Week 1: Learn to Pattern cut! The students will be shown how to pattern cut variations of Tops and Sleeves. Start designing, with examples of fashion design and development.

Week 2: Learn to Pattern cut! The students will be shown how to pattern cut variations of Trousers and skirts. Develop designing.

Week 3: Learn to Pattern cut! More developed pattern cutting. Finalising design for summer garment. Week 4: Finalise pattern for garment and decide of fabrics, with specific tutor help. Week 5: Cut out of fabric and start sewing

Week 6-12: Sewing and constructing garment, with specific skill tutorials and demonstrations weaved into lesson to help specific stages (eg. Zips, facings, different machine feet, pockets, cuffs,) The tutor will advise the student the whole way through on their own specific project, giving them inspiration and specific and personal technical demonstrations, whilst learning more universal sewing skills. The tutor is always there to email and send anything digitally for advice! Some of the specific skills included (tasks, tutor demonstration and presentations): Rolled hem, Invisible zip, Standard Zips, Different machine feet, Collars, Facings, Pockets, Basic Pattern Cutting, Fly Zip, Cuffs, how to cut fabrics, choosing the right needle for specific fabrics.

The Fashion School Community Interest Company

The Fashion School cares deeply about all our children. Our aim is to provide sustainable and positive fashion education to as many kids and young creatives as possible in our wider neighbourhoods.

We know from experience that reaching out to all our local families and services encourages happier children as they grow up to create a better world. We already offer some discretionary subsidised places, but want to reach out as far as we can. If we can be of use, we want to be involved. This has always been at our core, we’re non profit making and now we want to build on what we’ve started. We’re looking to further our collaboration with social services, community groups, hospitals, schools and just about anywhere where we can benefit someone’s life. I know from my own family background how vital social mobility is and to give every child a chance to succeed and give back to society..

Everyone should have the opportunity to learn new lifelong making skills, explore their creativity, build their confidence and improve their well being. All in a positive and authentic environment run by passionate qualified people who love teaching sustainable fashion to young creatives. Let’s instill a sense of future in all our neighbourhood kids.

The Fashion School is part of a drive to create a more even inclusive society and continue to do our bit to stop unethical and very dodgy fast fashion by educating the children and providing more positive choices. Who doesn’t want that?

As I’m writing this, I’m sure you feel the same, especially when you see the statistics for children living in poverty in our neighbourhoods below. There are so many children and young creatives living within our communities, talent and ambition comes from every sector of society and it needs to be seen and heard.

Here’s the grim statistics from the London boroughs and Brighton where we have studios. They are all completely shameful but the fact that Kensington and Chelsea is also one of the wealthiest boroughs in 2021 is beyond shocking

Children currently living in poverty in our neighbourhoods

Kensington and Chelsea 37.3% Brighton 28.4% Newham 52%

We are looking for further funding. If you feel you can help us as we look for grants/ funding to help us start our projects as we bring children and young creatives together. Maybe you have an idea or a connection? You’re like our big family and we would love you to be part of this. It’s beyond amazing that Cadogan Estate have always given us their kind support and Get Living has invited us to be part of East Village in the new positive fashion quarter in Stratford. (Our neighbours in E20 will be British Fashion Council, LCF and the V&A) Chelsea needs a bigger space, more facilities and machinery to accommodate all we intend to do within the community. A larger space would mean we could reach out to the wider community and specialist machinery would mean we could encourage a wider range of children to explore a wider opportunities within fashion, from knitwear to millinery

TESTIMONIALTESTIM TESTIMONIALTESTIMONIAL ESTIM O N I A L TESTIMONIAL “You’ve delivered the classes extremely well given the incredibly unusual circumstances. I know that ‘virtual teaching’ was new for you but your patience, humour and pragmatism has really helped Ravi adapt to the way the classes were being delivered. He has enjoyed the classes and stayed engaged and will very soon have a unique pair of jeans thanks to your teaching! The pandemic has been difficult for everyone. Having your online sewing classes has been great for Ravi to provide some consistency and stability during these unpredictable times.” - Parul, Ravi’s Mother Stratford is opening in September 2020 (fingers crossed very tightly!) and we will need specialist equipment, machinery to support our new community venture as we link up with local youth groups, schools, BFC Positive Fashion. T Brighton currently has enough space but we need funding for machinery and fresh facilities to enable us to create collaborative projects with the neighbourhood children, council and community groups. Let me know if you think you might be interested in being part of this, it would be fantastic to have you onboard!

FASHION LAB CAREER

FashionLab Career is an extension of FashionLab. It's a new class during lockdown aimed at anyone over 11+ who is;

Passionate about what they do and think they want to do fashion in some form as a career. Doesn't necessarily want to make only clothes for themselves Able to commit to another 2-3 hours on top of their 1.5 hour class. Want to experiment and explore new fashion territories Believe in sustainable craftsmanship as part of the design process and eager to learn Eager to understand and challenge the design and business process. Have some pattern cutting/sewing/ construction experience from at least 1 term in our other FashionLab classes. Interested in writing, drawing and other areas of fashion communication. Has their own informed opinion and interest in all the arts, not just fashion Inquisitive about different careers, courses, designers, brands and movements out there Has a personal 'fashion' Instagram account and follows industry professionals and inspirationals. These students are individuals. Tutoring them has become beyond a privilege during lockdown and has kept my morale buoyant to say the least. They are so engaged and connected with 'the now' of their project, they haven't got the space to become disenchanted or low. Watching their ideas evolve is like watching Athena being born from Zeus's forehead. Incredible. If you would like to join after Easter and you think you fulfill the criteria then get in touch.

The Healer. March - August 2020

Lockdown. A hand rendered illustrative storytelling project based on each student's own idea of what a healer means to them. No pasted downloads, no secondary research or magazine research - it was all to come from the student. Their current unique and unexpected experience and their imagination drove the project. The Healer was a completely hand drawn and handwritten set of work using some donated Alexander McQueen, Clinton Lotter and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi samples. The children learned about medicinal herbs and their healing qualities. The stories were so varied and beautiful. Very involved fairy tales, spells, a few were quite apocalyptic, there were mystics, parallel universes and secret codes. The children were encouraged to look round their living spaces and gardens to create something new and photograph it in an original form. The storybooks were imaginatively presented and represented the teenagers early lockdown experiences.

Michael H a l p e r n / Chopova Lowena - December 2000 to March 2021

We flipped the structure of the traditional project approach on its head and focussed first on marketing. The students started by researching into each brand, analysing their collections and where their stockists were. Our interviews with the designers on our ‘Get Down and Get With It’ children’s fashion information podcasts supported their research. We were so grateful for the generosity and involvement by Micael Halpern and Chopova Lowena and the project would’ve looked pretty silly without them. Their involvement was paramount, we like to keep things connected and authentic for our students. December 2020 The children were given a circularity bag (see fabric page for details) of fabric from their chosen designer, some children wanted to play with both, all good. Christmas was spent draping on either a mannequin stand, themselves, their mums or even the dog as they learned about the fabric properties, drape techniques and how to create extreme volume using what was around the home. No sketchbook design this time, no pencils or paint. Instead the emphasis was on fabric manipulation using cardboard boxes, brooms, exercise balls, balloons, cut up plastic bottles that all became part of the inventive picture. No sewing or cutting fabrics at this stage either, as frustrating as the children found it . Encouragement was directed at trying out anything unexpected. Knot, pleat, stretch and pin. Pleated school skirts, saris and mum’s bras all made an appearance as the children used their imaginations over the Christmas period. In creative contrast, they experimented in the role of fashion illustrator as they interpreted their drapes and journalists when they wrote an article relating to the project.

January 2021 Sophie (London), Zoë (Brighton) and myself taught the students a basic making structure formula to work from in addition to the drape and research. First step was foundation underpinning for Halpern and creating a ‘warrior shield’ for Chopova Lowena using a mash of fabric textures. We thought a structured corset as part of a layer of garments would be ideal as this was such a skills based endeavour. Children in their early teens are always very interested in corsets as their own bodies change silhouette. Halpern students focussed solely on technical engineering to hold up voluminous drapes of luxury fabric using supportive power mesh, boning and lingerie fastenings. Something they could dance all night in Halpern style and still look good at the end of the night. Meanwhile Chopova Lowena students focussed on a warrior corset and the relationship of a mesh based printed T- shirt underneath. Adding developed unusual sleeve formations taken from an oversized sleeve block. Lastly they created their interpretation of an oversized collar and how this sat with the rest of the outfit. Lastly they made cycling shorts, leggings and skirts as a response to what they understood about their designer. Skills learned have been the beginnings of marketing research, experimental drape, corsetry, illustration, fabric manipulation, pattern cutting, journalism, garment finish and presentation.

Easter - Summer 2021 ‘I Remember You When.’

This will be our new end of lockdown project and back in the studios, wahay! Last term was about creativity and experimentation. This time it’s about craftsmanship, personal identity and memory. Skills learned will be a combination of more advanced pattern cutting, fine sewing, basic tailoring detailing, simple print processes, lingerie techniques, leatherwork and finish. Alexander McQueen have really generously donated some of the finest quality fabrics I’ve ever seen and we’ll be sending them progress updates each month. This project is most definitely not about replicating McQueen garments but learning how to take the esprit of a brand and interpreting it into something relevant to the children’s identity.

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Upcoming Workshops

Brighton Fashion Illustration Workshop Brighton Design A Spring Dress Workshop Brighton Parent and Child Workshop Brighton Spring Accessories Workshop Brighton Jeans/Denim Revamp Workshop Brighton and London Online Workshops

London Design A Spring Dress Workshop London

Jeans/Denim Revamp

Workshop London Make A Spring Dress London Make A Sweatshirt Workshop London

Teddy Making Using Liberty

Print Fabric London Lace Cami Top London

Fashion Illustration

Workshop

TESTIMONIALTESTIMONIAL T E S T I MONIALTESTIMONIAL TESTIMONIAL TESTIM O N I A L TESTIMONIAL “My daughter took part in the pattern cutting workshop last week. I just wanted to pass on my thanks. Ellie had a brilliant time, she came away each day full of positivity. It seems like the workshop was perfectly pitched and each child got all the individual attention they needed. We will be looking out for any future courses.” - Kate, Ellie’s Mother TESTIMONIALTESTIMONIAL T E S T I MONIALTESTIMONIAL TESTIMONIAL TESTIM O N I A L TESTIMONIAL “And also Millie thank you so much to FS and yourself for just getting on with it again, I am an art teacher teaching a practical subject online to secondary age so I understand the challenges!!!! I was so impressed with your positivity and energy last lockdown!!” - Kim, Ruby’s Mother 24 TESTIMONIAL TESTIMONIAL T E S T I MONIALTESTIMONIAL TESTIMONIAL TESTIM O N I A L TESTIMONIAL “Thank you Tyrella that was really fun!!! Would it be possible for you to send mesome of the templates of the costume design because I have lots of new ideas!!! I am looking forward to receiving the headband templates and the next class!.” - Erica, Grace’s Mother

Little Fashion Creatives Vogue Covers Competition

The Little Fashion Creatives designed their own Vogue Magazine cover. They could use any materials they wanted, whether that be pens, pencils and collage- we even had a digital entry! We encouraged the use of words such as up cycling and sustainability to make their magazine covers really current!

Lara Lewis Carine Roberts/Batikian

Amaya Chaturachinda Ella Spurrell Melanie Carver

Illustrated Collections

Stylish Tweens and Ready to Wear children illustrated 6 looks from a recent fashion collection. They have been really inspired and exposed to current sustainable designers in their online lessons and it shows! We suggested a few - but some of them researched and found their own collection that inspired them.

Sophia Yates Sophie Mercer

Roma Burato Furman

FASHION LAB ARTICLES

Here are the begginning paragraphs to the Fashion Lab Competition Articles.

To read them in full, click on the title of the one you would like to read and it will link you to the full writing.

For the teens, we wanted to broaden their horizons and learn about key current issues and matters in the fashion industry which had been woven into the framework of what they have learnt this term.

The scope, effort and variety the teens have put in is incredibly impressive. They included what they felt personally interesting about the topic they discussed too. The Future of Fashion The Rental Revolution Race, Culture and Appropriation Barbie-doll Fashion Models The Impact of Fast Fashion How Has Covid-19 Affected The Fashion

by Lyla Mills by Kaila Gordon by Sohni Saini by Ruby Stewart by Lucia Sarria

Pondering on the subjects of sustainability and circularity I came across the brilliant zero waste idea of fashion rental.

Renting is a fairly new idea but is now very popular as everyone is becoming more conscious about the environment and the catastrophic effects of fast fashion poisoning our planet... Fashion has always embraced global exploration and taken influence from different cultures worldwide. During the early stages of trade within the industry, exotic textiles would be brought to new markets allowing for the appreciation of new designs.

Appreciation is best described as the pursuit to understand and learn about another culture. It is the aim of broadening ones perspective and connecting in an intercultural way... Appearances can be deceiving. But what does this mean in today’s ever evolving modern society? Is there such a thing as a “perfect figure”? Hourglass, muscular physique, chiselled features, six-pack, 36-24-36, slender, slim, and sublime!! How many of you fit into these categories? How many of you dream to fit into these categories?... In the last two decades the fashion industry has turned on its head. With the rise of Fast Fashion, buying cheap clothes has become the only option for many. Trends have gone as fast as they have come, leading to fast fashion adding around 10,000 items of clothing to landfill every five minutes... Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on almost every industry. And so it follows that the fashion industry has also been experiencing the overwhelming effects of the global health crisis. As soon as the lockdown began in March clothing sales suddenly dropped by 34% in one month as most of the world’s population was currently unable to travel abroad or even socialise due to lockdown restrictions...

Fast Fashion On Sustainability Culture in Fashion Child Labor within the Fashion Industry Fast Fashion Kpop Idols Impact on Fashion and Trends and the Future of the Fashion Industry Fashion Positivity – How the Industry is Beginning to Embrace diversity

by Jake Horne by Koko Harte by Chiara Knorr Isabella Stephens by Teoma Mecadini by Azara Allevne

Everyone in the fashion industry should know by now what sustainability is and the issue with it in fashion. The fashion industry alone causes about 10% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, this isnt the only problem, around 10,000 items of clothing are sent to landfill every five minutes. A lot of this is due to fast fashion. Fast fashion brands include: Zara, Primark, H&M and Pretty Little Thing, among many others... Fashion. You have definitely come across this word before. It means something different to everyone and it is constantly changing.... But where do trends come from? What are the roots for the term ‘fashion’? Far back, in the days where there was no internet or television, every country had its own idea about beauty... Fast fashion is a huge profitable business known for its mass production in clothing at such low prices. Most people who buy fast fashion aren’t entirely aware of the negative impact it has on the world and people, because they are caught up in the « too good to be true » prices. Well the prices are in fact too good to be true, because the story behind that t-shirt you bought is much worse than you would think...

Child Labour is still a very prevelent issue in the fashion industry and there are numerous fast fashion brands which contain child labour. Some highstreet brands include: H&M, Forever 21, GAP, Nike, Zara, Urban Outfitters, Primark, Adidas, Victoria’s Secret and more. An example of this found that children as young as 14 were working to produce garments for H&M and were getting paid only 13p an hour (which is half of the legal minimum wage)... For decades the Fashion Industry insisted that models were white. Non-white models talked about the difficulties they had in being picked for fashion runways and photo shoots. Naomi Campbell has talked about the prejudice she faced in the 1980s and not being picked because of the colour of her skin. She remembers in 1988 making the June cover of Italian Vogue and the problems they had because the make up artist didn’t bring the right foundation...

Kpop, a morph of pop, rap, electronica and dance which has evolved to something beyond music and now is linked to a profitable billion-dollar fashion industry. The phenomenon is labeled as ‘Hallyu’,a concept used to explain the expansion of Korean pop culture and entertainment to the rest of the world...

Scrap challenge for our Stylish Tweens! The Brief: Create an illustration that shows one idea of how you can re-use scrap fabric, design zero waste or re-use old textiles. This is something you are all very good at by now with our projects over the last year focusing on these techniques, draw on what you know and show us the way forward, or come up with a completely new and out there idea! You could alternatively choose to illustrate an issue with the fashion industry, think about textile waste, factory labour or look into extinction rebellion. You must include some notes or explanation in your entry. They must implement sustainability by reusing fabric & materials they have around the house to create texture and add colour!

Beth Trebble

Beth Trebble Maya Manley

Rita Martinez Bayliss

Rose Weedon Rose Weedon Tabitha Ellis

Scrap challenge for our Fashion Lab students! The Brief: Create an illustration that shows one idea of how you can re-use scrap fabric, design zero waste or re-use old textiles. This is something you are all very good at by now with our projects over the last year focusing on these techniques, draw on what you know and show us the way forward, or come up with a completely new and out there idea! You could alternatively choose to illustrate an issue with the fashion industry, think about textile waste, factory labour or look into extinction rebellion. You must include some notes or explanation in your entry. They must implement sustainability by reusing fabric & materials they have around the house to create texture and add colour!

Sam Mcbryer Rita Hare

Minty Rees Minty Rees

Rightyo kids. As you know, sewing and technical skills are at the base of all you do in your classes. They are really important. The more you learn, the more design possibilities open up to you and the more confident you become.

Here’s some questions for you to try to answer.

We’ve made them so you probably don’t know all the answers so it gives you another chance to learn by researching them yourself rather than expecting us to give you the answers.

FashionLab and stylish Tweens crew, you must answer the tinies’ questions too as they are some of the all important basics.

6 - 9 years

1. Do you know what a ‘doughnut’ is on your machine? 2. Where is the ‘dolphin’? 3. Where would I find the ‘robot’s mouth’? 4. Where is a hem on your clothes? 5. What does ‘weave’ mean? 6. When would I go backwards when I’m machine sewing? 7. What is a ‘sustainable’ fabric? Why is it important? 8. Where would I find a ‘seam’? 9. How would I use elastic? 10. What is lace?

9 - 11 years (a little trickier!)

1. What is an overlocker? 2. Why can’t I use fabric scissors to cut paper? 3. Why do we use a pattern and why do we have to pin them? 4. What is draping? 5. Can you explain what ‘interfacing’ is? 6. Name 3 different ways to repair something. 7. Why is zero waste so important when you make something? 8. What is the difference between ‘dogstooth’ and ‘houndstooth’ fabrics? 9. Can you think of two different types of pleats? 11+ (much trickier!)

1. What is a ‘straight grain’? 2. Why would I use a patternmaster? 3. What is ‘boning’ in fashion construction? 4. Why are notches important? 5. What is tailoring and how would you use it? 6. How do I ‘slash’ a pattern? 7. When would I use an ‘awl’ 8. Draw a collar and revere. 9. Do you know what a lapel is? 10. Describe these, ‘moiré’, ‘virgin wool’, ‘tulle’ and ‘cashmere’ 11. Name three different types of zip 12. Draw these different sleeves. Dolman, Bishop’s, Leg o’ mutton, raglan, two piece. 14. What do these names apply to and can you draw them? Nehru, mandarin, peter pan, turtle, cowl and boat.

Q&A

Lyla and Ola Valentina and Ciara

Click on the images to link you to the quickfire Q&A videos where the students have asked questions to our teams to now share with you all!

Check out our TikTok channel

Azara and Sophie Hero and Tyrella

Lily and Kelly Millie

A children’s fashion information podcast using questions asked by passionate young creatives, who want to know more about the fashion industry. You are the future of sustainable fashion and the fashion world wants you to be equipped to make a positive change in the industry. Caroline Gration from The Fashion School takes your questions directly to industry professionals who tell it like it is. Designers, journalists, PR, fashion mavericks, tailors, etc, who want to enable our young creatives to get down and get with it. Children aged 10 - 16 send your questions to @thefashionschooluk