Recycled and Fairtrade fashion at Upton-by-Chester High School
Students at Upton-by-Chester High School in Cheshire strutted their stuff for a fashion filled extravaganza to celebrate the end of Fairtrade Fortnight, parading a range of stylish clothes donated by twelve Fairtrade fashion companies down the catwalk.
Outfits, provided by retailers across the UK including Junky, Annie Greenabelle, Komodo, Nancy Dee and Gossypium, a Brighton company which uses Fair Trade cotton and local Sussex wool, included everything from Duffel coats and remodelled pinstripe suits to classic pieces inspired by the timeless style of Audrey Hepburn. All clothes showcased on the catwalk were available to buy after the show in a Fairtrade marketplace.
Upton High School is a member of Eco-Schools, and more outlandish outfits were created by textiles students, who remodelled and embellished clothing donated by students and staff. Students also modelled quirky clothing made of laminated newspaper and hats fashioned from melted bags to demonstrate recycling.
The audience in the packed school hall, which included staff, students and parents as well as representatives from the fashion companies and local press, was also treated to musical entertainment by the school choir and 1950s-influenced trio the Harmonettes, as well as energetic African-inspired dancing by the BTEC dance group. Members of the crowd also had the chance to win products donated by local companies in a Fairtrade raffle, including goodie bags, wine and a meat voucher.
Headteacher Mrs Holland said: “We are trying to promote an ethos in the school of recognising the needs of others throughout the world and trying to develop the principles of equality and fairness so students are not looking inwards but outwards into the world and have respect for the environment and other countries.”
