People and Personalities

Kara carefully researched the military uniforms of World War I and approached the Royal British Legion last year, to ask if she could use any left over poppies to create a soldier's outfit for her annual school fashion show at St Francis College in Letchworth.

Kara cut the stems from hundreds of poppies

Kara set about making the soldier's uniform by cutting the stems from hundreds of poppies and then pulling them apart.  A trip to a local charity shop provided the jacket and trousers. 

Kara then made small holes in the fabric to attach the poppies. "It's not that comfortable to wear, the end of the stems are quite scratchy against my legs!" said Kara.  

The fifteen year old then carefully sewed the poppy leaves in lines on a backing fabric to make leggings to wind around her legs and also sewed trim onto the jacket using poppies and leaves.

After the success of her first design, Kara then decided to then make a dress for a young girl to wear in the style of that era, spraying the poppies white to represent the innocence of youth and the hope for a peaceful future. 

White poppies represent the innocence of youth

She hasn't counted exactly how many poppies were used but says it must be hundreds.  "I could get counting but it may take some time!" said Kara.

The poppies were donated by the Welwyn Garden City branch of the British Legion.  Kara joined members of the branch to help with their Poppy Appeal collection in the Howard Shopping Centre.