This summer York College welcomed a group of Japanese students and their chaperones from Tokyo Kasei University. The students took part in a Fashion and Textiles project, focusing on 'make do and mend' and the art of up-cycling.
During their visit they stayed with a host family in York and were taught English lessons in College. They had trips to the Beamish Open Air Museum, a day in Whitby and visits to York and they enjoyed dressing up at the Theatre Royal Costume department.
York College textiles tutor Lianne Emmison said: “This year's fashion project focused on recycling pieces of clothing, linen or textiles and bringing a new twist to the art of up-cycling. The students used fabric and trims from the past and combined them with contemporary textiles to bring them into the future, in the form of hair accessories and handbags. The students created some stunning pieces and had fun in the process.”
The trips to the Costume Museum and Beamish Open Air Museum connected well to the aim of the Fashion and Textiles project; the Theatre Costume Museum demonstrated how contemporary fabrics and vintage fabrics can be combined to create something new. The trip to Beamish provided an opportunity to see many of the techniques the Victorians used to salvage and reuse textiles, including demonstrations in rag rugging techniques and knitting.
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