A New Era of Sustainable Fashion Designers are B.O.R.N at Sunshine Beach State High School
The next generation of slow fashion champions have graduated from Sunshine Beach State High School in fine style. Carlie Wacker explores the fashion formed from recycled textiles.
Every year, a flurry of excitement and the hum of sewing machines fill the air as Sunshine Beach High School’s Year 12 fashion students wrap up their final assessments. The grand finale for those studying the Sustainable Fashion unit was B.O.R.N (Bought. Owned. Redesigned. New.) – a Fashion Shoot and runway show, held at Sunshine Beach Surf Club that brought together friends, family, and the community to celebrate the students’ innovative use of repurposed textiles.
The culmination of ten weeks of study, students researched, designed and produced one-to-four runway-ready pieces from recycled materials as part of their final assessment – and I was blown away by the creations on show. The materials used were individually sourced by the students to incorporate their own ethos with creations ranging from reimagined op-shop finds to repurposed tents, neckties, bedding, curtains, denim jeans, tablecloths and vintage fabrics. These designs not only fulfill academic requirements but also build impressive portfolios for future careers, which certainly look bright!
Guided by passionate educators Tina Fitzgerald and Tracy Marsden, the students’ efforts were captured by professional photographers from the school community, Katie Weychardt, Ryan Wilson and Justine Bath; with assistance from Year 11 photography students Leilani and Isabelle. The slow fashion industry applauds these budding designers for their creative and cool design and construction showcasing sustainable practices.
It’s likely we’ll see some of these talents gracing both Australian and international runways in the future! Stay tuned!
