FROM rags to the red carpet, design students have given a modern day makeover to charity shop remnants.
Fashion and textile designers from Cleveland College of Art & Design created a dramatic denim evening gown from old pairs of jeans for a charity shop catwalk show in aid of Teesside Hospice.
The floor length garment, which took six pairs of jeans and three days to make, was the star of the show at the event to raise funds for the Teesside Hospice and promote the fashion finds in its 14 charity shops across the region.
CCAD fashion and textile tutor Diane Watson said: “Our students are currently working with Teesside Hospice charity shops to up-cycle their unwanted denim jeans into bespoke household items.
“As part of the project they also asked us if we would create a special up-cycled outfit from the jeans to be modelled at the fundraising event at Redcar Racecourse.
“It was great to see the dress go down the catwalk in front of such a large crowd and it got a big cheer from the audience on the day.”
The evening dress which, was designed and made by second year students Alex Peterken and Helena Stainthorpe, with help from CCAD tutor Stephen White, will now go on display at Teesside Hospice’s vintage charity shop in Saltburn.
Retail area manager for Teesside Hospice Tracey ‘O’Donnell said: “Teesside Hospice costs £2.2m every year to run and clothing donations are a vital.
“Sometimes we get damaged clothing we can’t sell so we have been working with CCAD to up-cycle into designer aprons and bespoke peg bags to raise more money for people with cancer in our region.”
The racecourse fashion event also saw a former CCAD fashion student named best-dressed race-goer of the day.
Philippa Hunter, 22, who runs Guisborough fashion house Rag and Doll with business partner Natalie Futo, picked up the accolade wearing one of her own designs.
Philippa, of New Marske said: “I have just finished my fashion degree course at CCAD in Hartlepool, and I’m really pleased the judges thought my dress was glamorous.”
For more information on opportunities at CCAD contact (01642) 288888 or log on to www.ccad.ac.uk.
