Building confidence through sustainable fashion workshops
At the heart of Life Styling is connection, creativity and family. And with this in mind our sustainable fashion workshops in Abingdon have been the most rewarding to date. A space where kids and youths can explore their identify, creativity and just be themselves was the most important ingredients to these popular workshops... but don't take my word for it, hear what the young people have to say....
“Life styling has taught me useful skills and has brought out the creative side of me that I don’t normally feel confident to be, I am very grateful to be apart of the amazing workshops that Jess does”I wanted to thank Jess for everything she does, the way she makes me feel welcome and to be confident with what I do is amazing and it means a lot to me as she knows I’m not very confident, and what I love about her workshops is that she doesn’t mind showing you skills such as knotting a piece of thread over and over again and I’ve learned things I never knew before coming to the workshops. Thank you so much Jess!
This was written by a flourishing young person, who in her time at our Upcycling workshops has re-created a jumper, a pair of shoes and a piece of knit wear- and might I add these pieces are incredible. Sharing skills of how to use a needle and thread, to cutting fabrics, to discovering inspiration and fashion designs along the way, just touches the service of possibilities.
There is not enough space for our kids to breath and enjoy working out their magic. If they are not ‘traditional’ learners (not sure many are) there is very little space for them to grow and work on areas that light them up.
In a world where school can feel over-whelming and for some young people feel restrictive, a creative hub feels essential. A space where they can explore different options and find their magic that may otherwise not been explored in school. The element of personal development doesn't feel like it's hitting the bar at school, and often we leave feeling confused and not truly understanding who we are and what we love. Surely this should come first, along with the way we work. In our workshops, each individual works in their unique way to explore what feels good. For example some like to draw first, others like to play with fabrics, and others like to source inspiration through images. No one size fits all, particularly as our session are SEN friendly.
We believe that everyone has their own magic and its important that it is discovered, so through these workshops and hopefully in the future far more creative sessions, there will be a space where our young people can feel a sense of belonging and are able to be them and discover what they love. Clothing is a form of self-expression, and in itself can support us to show up in the world in a way that's feels like us.
To explore this is to explore ourselves and our confidence. Upcycle Kids & Upcycle youths is a space to share, create, and explore themselves. Starting off with Life Styling and upcycling clothing and then exploring connecting with other creative skills ❤️ working towards a sustainable future 🪡
With a focus on environmental awareness, the Up-cycle Youths Workshop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire aims to inspire young minds to think creatively and make a positive impact on the planet. By repurposing items that would otherwise go to waste, children will learn the importance of sustainability and develop a sense of pride in their creations.
