A vibrant showcase of eco-conscious creativity is set to take place at St Mark’s Church on Sunday 27 September, as Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) collaborates with Defashion Dorset to present the Community Fashion Show.
The runway will feature work from second-year BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance students alongside Foundation Diploma in Art and Design students, who will showcase their designs alongside contributions from local community groups, local colleges and schools.
Students will present imaginative costumes designed to communicate optimistic responses to the climate crisis. Drawing inspiration from themes such as Guerrilla Gardening, Seaweed, Ozone Layer, Arctic Restoration, Encouraging Pollinators, Coral Restoration, and Nature Nurse, these conceptual creations explore how performance and fashion can inspire environmental stewardship.
The project highlights extensive cross-course collaboration at AUB, featuring work from MA Photography students, styling and makeup from BA (Hons) Makeup, Hair and Prosthetics students, and performances on the runway by BA (Hons) Acting students.
Adele Keeley, Senior Lecturer in BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance, comments, “Our students have approached the climate emergency not with despair, but with incredible imagination and optimism.”
“By transforming reclaimed materials and highlighting solutions like rewilding and ocean restoration, the show celebrates what is possible when creative vision meets sustainable practice.”
Highlighting the creative potential of reclaimed materials, AUB’s Foundation Fashion Specialism lecturer Burcu Aslan Yilmaz (known as Bee) and students Albert Wallace, Alexis Hughes, and Tomoko Saburi will present The Curator.
This conceptual collection directly tackles the issue of upholstery industry waste by transforming discarded fabric offcuts and interior textile swatches into contemporary garments. Drawing on iconic British style references from trench coats to Savile Row tailoring, The Curator recontextualises curtains, tapestries and interior fabrics on the body, using material scarcity to drive innovative design.
“Working on this project has opened my mind to sustainable fashion and how used or discarded materials can be transformed into something high end and stylish.” Albert Wallace, Foundation Diploma fashion specialism student and co-creator of The Curator, says. “I learned a lot of skills throughout the process and found the entire experience very enlightening. I definitely feel more confident working professionally in a team and I am grateful to have that experience.”
Jennifer Morisetti, Founder of Defashion Dorset, comments, “This show will provide drama, impact and innovation as well as simple but effective upcycling tips, such as how to transform a blanket into a coat or dress, make simple tops from tablecloths and scarves and make wearable garments from discarded charity shop evening dresses.”
Tickets are priced at £5, with free admission for students (ticket reservation required). All funds raised from ticket sales will support St Mark's in the continued development of its Arts at St Mark's programme, helping to bring enriching arts and performance opportunities to the local community.
Tickets can be booked online via Humanitix.
