Derbyshire pupils experience new skills and create their very own fashion garments – for ‘Whatever the Great British Weather’ brings

Millie Smith aged 8 from Town End Junior School in Tibshelf, Bethany Haynes aged 14 from Heanor Gate Science College and Oliver Curran aged 11 from Leys Junior School, Alfreton, have fashioned their way to victory – taking home the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards at David Nieper’s Fashion for Free! competition final for their inspired designs.

The Alfreton-based fashion house opened its doors on 18 June 2014 to over 100 students, teachers and parents from across Derbyshire, offering an insight into ‘in demand’ sewing skills and awarding the winners of its Fashion for Free! contest.

The competition, now in its fourth year, challenged students aged five to 16 to design and make an original fashion garment, hat, bag or belt, inspired by the brief ‘Whatever the Great British Weather’. As part of the event, finalists also explored the David Nieper design studios, watching specialist sewing techniques and learning button and bow-making alongside the company’s highly skilled staff.

According to the British Fashion Council, over 60% of workers in the textiles and manufacturing sectors are over the age of 40 and the sector is facing an uphill struggle to find new recruits who possess the necessary fashion manufacturing skills.

Fashion for Free! is one of a number of initiatives set up by David Nieper, to pass on specialist skills to the next generation, promote careers in the growing fashion industry* and help meet increased demand for ‘Made in Britain’ fashion.

Commenting on the event, Melanie White, customer services manager at David Nieper, said: “There’s a growing demand for high quality, British-made fashion and yet, the specialist skills needed to manufacture in the UK – abundant in our area not too long ago – are in danger of being lost. So, we have opened our doors to give young people an insight into the many careers on offer in the UK fashion industry and to pass on vital skills from one generation the next.

“The quality and creativity displayed in this year’s competition entries was amazing; it’s great to see so much talent right here on our doorstep.”

Competition entries were judged by David Nieper’s own staff, for their resourcefulness, creativity, use of sewing techniques and originality. Because it’s called Fashion for Free! all garments had to be made from re-used and recycled items from the home and the classroom.

This year, special awards were also presented to Constance Curran from Copthorne Infant School, Alfreton, for bravery – being the only entrant from her school, and Crich Junior School for a very high standard of work all round.

Kelvin Gibbs, headteacher of Mundy Junior School, in Heanor, said: “It’s inspirational for our pupils to visit a real-life UK fashion house, to see all the processes in action and appreciate how a garment is made from start to finish – and the variety of skills involved.”

In addition to the Fashion for Free! competition, David Nieper runs a number of initiatives, including paid internships, fashion design scholarships and work experience, to give young people first-hand experience in the industry.

Established in 1961, David Nieper design and manufacture womenswear in Alfreton, which is sold direct to customers in the UK and overseas. The company employ 230 people and have taken on over 40 new staff since the beginning of 2013.