BTC Students Showcase Creative Projects at St Margaret’s Hospice Shop in Taunton
St Margaret’s Hospice is proud to support the next generation of fashion-conscious creatives by providing a space for students to showcase their school projects. As part of the Fashion, Futures, and Sustainability project, students aim to design and produce sustainable fashion solutions that minimise over-consumption, while offering alternatives in purchasing habits and agricultural methods for producing sustainable fabrics.
During Hospice Care Week (11 October), five students from the L3 Fashion, Business & Retail Extended Diploma course at Bridgwater College worked with our Taunton shop on Bridge Street to present their course projects and receive valuable feedback from the local community. Led by tutor Rhona, the six-week project explored key industry issues such as upcycling, recycling, repurposing and reducing consumption, as well as encouraging shopping more from charity shops or using online apps instead of traditional high street retailers.
One student project centred on sustainable farming practices, focusing on growing crops organically with minimal machinery use. They also highlighted alternatives like sourcing organic cotton and replacing merino wool with alpaca wool, which is finer, hypoallergenic, and non-itchy. Another project emphasised wardrobe organisation as a method for reducing consumption, introducing the “5-4-3-2-1” method: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 jackets/jumpers, 2 accessories, and 1 pair of shoes per season.
In a creative twist, one student purchased a pair of jeans from St Margaret’s shop and transformed them into a skirt through upcycling. This redesigned item will be displayed on a mannequin for a few days, allowing the community to appreciate the work and read about the project.
These inspiring ideas came to life in our shop, giving the students a platform to practice essential communication and marketing skills, while honing their design and research expertise to complete the project successfully.
All students will return from Monday, 27 January to Friday, 31 January 2025 for work experience.
During this week, they will be tasked with designing a window display and competing against one another. We will provide all the necessary props and clothing. The winning design will be showcased in our Taunton and Bridgwater shops, concluding in a photoshoot to be added to their portfolios.