Teenagers who transformed unwanted clothes into catwalk-ready fashion have received praise from supermodel Erin O'Connor. The students showcased their creations at a fashion show held at Wolverhampton's Mander Centre.
More than 100 students presented original designs, which were made from donated and pre-loved garments. The participants spent a month transforming discarded clothing through sewing, repair, and redesign.
The winning outfit, created by Sebastian and Railijs, both 13, and Lucian, 14, featured a grey blazer decorated with colourful upcycled materials. These included plastic bottle caps, fabric scraps, ribbons, and patterned textiles. Railijs stated that the additions to their outfit represented global pollution.
Ms O'Connor, originally from Walsall, returned to her home region to judge the event. She assessed the creativity and transformation of the outfits, also sharing tips with students on how to walk the runway. She described it as a privilege to witness the creativity and innovation of young people from her local area.
The event was organised by social enterprise Reinvntd Community Interest Company (CIC) with support from Save the Children's Young People Climate Fund. Maya Patel, founder and director of Reinvntd CIC, noted that students progressed from basic sewing skills to creating over 30 upcycled garments.