Pupils showcase fashion on catwalk

Friday 5 February 2010

Pupils from secondary schools across South Lanarkshire have showcased their work at a fashion show and film screening.

As part of an art and design project, S3-S6 pupils from Calderside Academy, Larkhall Academy, Strathaven Academy and Stonelaw High School took part in the event at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride.

The course was devised to further develop pupils' participation in specialist design areas including promoting and reinforcing the importance of the design process as well as exposing them to practising, professional designers.

All pupils involved worked to the theme of homecoming while exploring a range of different design areas including jewellery, textiles, fashion and film making. The project title was 'As Others See Us' taken from one of Robert Burns' poems 'To A Louse'.

An enterprise group from Strathaven Academy were also involved in designing the invites and posters for the event as well as helping to co-ordinate on the evening.

Calderside Academy, Larkhall Academy and Strathaven Academy showcased work on the catwalk where pupils' movements were professioanally choreographed whilst in the theatre space of the musuem Strathaven Academy pupils also showcased their animation and film work.

Councillor Mary Smith, the chair of the council's Education Resources Committee, said: "The talent on display at the fashion show was absolutely astounding - it was a very professional and inspirational production.

"The unique thing about this project was that it focused on the overall design process rather than solely the end product. The programme addressed the research and exploration of themes and resource materials; the creative development of ideas and the execution of the final pieces at the event which was a great way to tackle the project.

"I must congratulate all the schools involved for what was a resounding success. Well done."

Organised and funded by the council's Cultural Co-ordinator Team with additional funding through South Lanarkshire's Enterprise in Education Innovation funding, the project was delivered by designers Laura Murray (Jewellery), Jenny Gray (Fashion), Laura Spring and Anna Sheard (Textiles), Iain Piercy (Animation and film making) and Sarah Forbes (Choreographer). The project has also been supported by the staff in the art departments of all the schools.