Arts & Culture

Fashion students from Writtle College in Chelmsford have showcased their designs at a catwalk show in London.

The fashion show was organised by one of the students and her mum, who owns a warehouse. 

"The assessment was actually only to make the garment," explains course lecturer Jacky Wright.  "Thanks to the offer of the venue, we made the clothes wearable, which was great fun.

"We then set up a project in theatrical fashion to further this idea, and it's been very successful," added Jacky.

The project was open to two groups, the National Diploma first years - whose brief was to make their garments out of magazine pictures, whilst the Foundation Diploma students brief was to make something out of plastic.

"We wanted all the students to partake in this unit," says Jacky.  "Without the stress of having to use a sewing machine and cut patterns this was far more creative and really quite outrageous,"

Designs from glamour to punk and gothic were modelled by the students themselves.  They could choose from either music, film or theatre.  Designs included cocktail and party dresses for a film premiere, wedding dresses, a Goth ballgown and a Punk party outfit.

Jacky Wright, Lecturer in Art and Design was instrumental in setting up the course three years ago.

"When I joined Writtle College I felt there was quite a void in art and design," she says.  "We have a fantastic campus, and art and design seemed to be a natural course to have there.

"We already had a National Diploma running in 3D design, but we changed that to an Art and Design National Diploma," added Jacky.

The course targets students of 16-years of age who have done their GCSE's.   The next step was to set up the Foundation Diploma for students who leave after AS or A level, at 17 or 18-years-old.

The one year Diploma in Foundation Art and Design course covers nine different subjects areas.  As well as fashion the students learn graphics and product design, photography and various other subjects.