Designers impress royalty with sustainable fashion
Fashion students from the college were able to showcase a range of sustainable garments to Prince Charles at a Civic Dinner at Gorton Monastery in September.
HRH The Prince of Wales was visiting Manchester as part of a five-day tour of Britain intended to celebrate sustainability in the community and promote waste and energy reduction.
The sustainable fashion show was the highlight of the special dinner event, which was attended by 400 guests, including the college’s senior vice principal, Marie Gilluley.
Alongside undergraduates from Manchester Metropolitan University, the college’s students took to the catwalk with a collection of garments made from men’s suits sourced from local charity shops to demonstrate how clothing can be both stylish and sustainable at the same time.
The aim was to show how reusing garments previously manufactured and giving them a second life reduces the fashion industry’s carbon footprint, prevents the clothes from becoming landfill and generates money for charities.
Lorraine Window, divisional lead manager for creative and media, said: “It was great for the students to get the royal seal approval from such a high profile environmental commentator and campaigner as Prince Charles.
“We make a real effort to bring ethical and sustainability issues and ideas to our students’ attention, ensuring that the next generation of fashion industry professionals keep such issues close to their hearts when they embark upon their future careers.”
The Manchester College has recently developed a course for entrepreneurs who wish to start sustainable, ethical, and social enterprises. Remade in Manchester is aimed at individuals who want to know how to go about setting up an ethical business and covers interior design, furniture, fashion and jewellery design and manufacture.
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