Ballymena students helping homeless with ‘Creative Flair’

Lauren Greer from Ballymena steps out in recycled style.

Published on 30/11/2012 09:55

THRIFTY Ballymena students Lauren Greer and April Morgan have been taking a fresh, rags-to-riches look at fashion, as part of a design team producing a contemporary clothing collection which will be sold in aid of The Simon Community Northern Ireland.

In a unique partnership launched to mark Homelessness Awareness Week (November 23-December 2), Lauren, April and their fellow Belfast Metropolitan College fashion students took clothing donated to the charity’s recently opened Botanic Avenue shop in the heart of Belfast ‘studentland’ and gave it a whole new look for re-sale.

‘Creative flair’ was ignited by the wish to fundraise for the voluntary organisation which provides emergency accommodation, advice and community support for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless...and the result is a collection with head-turning appeal and potentially life-changing impact.

Admiring creations from April and Lauren at a preview of the first up-scaled collection due to go on sale this month, Nuala Dalcz, Director of Development, Simon Community NI, said: “The students have taken the old ‘make do and mend’ concept to new heights, transforming donated clothing to create incredible new outfits. Their work shows that fashion needn’t always be frivolous and that up-scaling could well be the ‘new black’ for coming seasons.

“We have been delighted not only at the creativity but also at the generosity of the Met students and we’re looking forward to seeing their creations fly off the rails in our Botanic Avenue shop. We believe their new looks from old will find a ready market, particularly amongst cash-strapped students. Every outfit sold will help us to undertake important work on behalf of individuals and families who are either homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless and for whom ‘cutting their cloth according to their means’ is, sadly, very much a tough reality of daily life.”

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Ballymena students helping homeless with ‘Creative Flair’

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