The innovative designs were produced by student Ellie, who was just one of the young designers showcasing her talents at Springwood High School’s 2022 BTEC Fashion Show.

In a move away from disposable ‘fast fashion’, the Year 13 student ironed Aldi shopping bags to create a fabric which she then embroidered and used to make jogging bottoms. She also fashioned a bodice from black plastic bin liners.

Springwood’s fashion course leader, Emma Markwell, explained that Ellie and her peers had been forced to ‘think outside the box’, as coronavirus restrictions during their first year on the two-year BTEC fashion course had made it difficult for them to source conventional materials.

“The Year 13 students had lockdown to contend with when they were in Year 12,” she said, “so there were no fabric shops open, and they had to make skirts out of shower curtains and whatever else they could get their hands on. They also made prom outfits online while in lockdown, so they had a turbulent beginning. But they’ve been amazing, and have created some really cool designs.”

The Fashion Show, which took place in the Springwood’s Peter Hopkins Hall, also featured a Lockdown Collection for last year’s graduates who were unable to show their creations at the time, as well as the Key Stage 3 Fashion Club Collection, which was the result of a collaboration between the school’s after-school club and a school in Nepal.

Students from Years 8 to 13 took part in the event, both on the catwalk and backstage, Miss Markwell added: “We had 50 students modelling. Some of the fashion students were also models, but others preferred to stay behind the scenes – although they did have to come out to receive a round of applause at the end.

“Everything at the show was made by the students from scratch, with inspirations ranging from vintage to traditional, including Vivienne Westwood, Coco Chanel, and even Vincent Van Gogh.”

Fashion and design are increasingly popular subjects at Springwood, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust. 

“The Fashion Club has dramatically increased the student take up for GCSE Design and Technology (Fashion and Textiles),” Miss Markwell said, “with many of them going on to study the BTEC Fashion course in sixth form. We’ve also had more male students joining over the last two or three years, and even more this year. It’s nice to have a more diverse range of students and to challenge some stereotypes. Fashion should be for everyone.”