Words: Jim Corah Photos: Stephen Cole
Kirkstall joined the international fashion show ranks with the Gaia – Mother Earth Fashion Re-Made.
The fashion show was part of Kirkstall Art Trail and included something that has not yet graced international catwalks in Milan, London and Paris: A genuine new Yorkshire treat – all the clothes featured in the show were upcycled using clothes purchased from a local Cancer Research UK shop.
Like the whole of Kirkstall Art Trail, the simplest ambitions have the largest impact. While contemplating ways of expanding the art offered during the free community event, committee members hit upon upcycling inspiration. What better way to encourage engagement with sustainable and upcycled fashion through an event in the Kirkstall Abbey Church?
One of the many inspirations for this fashion show came from the ‘transformation’ challenge that is part of the Great British Sewing Bee (filmed in nearby Farsley), though more so was the desire to demonstration how easy it was to divert fabric and clothes away from the rubbish heap.
To inspire future designers it was decided that the fabric and clothes could cost no more than £30 and could only be purchased from the Cancer Research UK shop at the Kirkstall Bridge Retail park.
Having agreed rules for participants, a call out was made and many designers took up their scissors. A Whatsapp group was established to share ideas and techniques, words of encouragement and suggestions for future garments.
The reason to put on the Gaia – Mother Earth Fashion Re-Made event (the show’s name suggested by the participants) came out of necessity for Kirkstall Art Trail. Kirkstall Abbey is a key venue and with a wedding taking place in the fantastic surroundings of the Church on Saturday using the long Nave as a catwalk seemed a fabulous idea.
The fashion show took place at 2pm on Sunday 21, July 2024, during the second day of the free community art weekend event.
With help from some of our contacts providing theatre flats to define our stage, student dancers from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and our very own committee volunteer and amazing photographer Stephen Cole, the fashion show drew a crowd of 200 visitors as models (picked by the designers) made their way down the catwalk into Kirkstall Art Trail history.
Kirkstall Art Trail is a free art event that took place on Saturday 20 July and Sunday 21 July 2024 with artists and workshops taking place in venues across Kirkstall.
Kirkstall Art Trail 2024 is funded in part with support from Leeds City Council’s Inner West Leeds Community Committee, with projects supported by Ceg, developer of Kirkstall Forge, and through generous donations from members of the public.
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