Heather Jacks winner of BBC2’s the Great British Sewing Bee judges Derbyshire schools young fashion talent
Four Derbyshire school children have been crowned winners of this year’s David Nieper, Fashion for Free! schools’ design competition, and were today awarded with their prizes by Heather Jacks winner of BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee.
BBC2 Sewing Bee winner Heather Jacks is guest speaker and judge at this year’s event.
Photo by Fabio De Paola
The Key Stage 1 prize went to Constance Curran, from Copthorne Infants School for her pretty skirt design. Her big brother George Curren from Leys Junior was also awarded first place in the Key Stage 2 category for his top hat made out of socks.
Heanor Gate Pupil Lydia Ross with her creations.
Photo by Fabio De Paola
Aaron Brookes from Mundy School won in the Key Stage 2 category for designing a laptop bag made out of school ties and Maddie Beebe a Year 8 from Heanor Gate School won the Key Stage 3 award for a bakery inspired apron.
Over 160 school children participated in the competition and they along with parents and teachers were welcomed at the David Nieper studios to experience first-hand the workings of fashion house.
The children were given a guided tour around the sewing rooms and had the opportunity to take part in a range of craft activities including button and bow making, as well as practising their cross stich, and picking up tips from both Heather and the David Nieper team of machinists and dressmakers.
‘Invention to Re-invention’ was this year’s competition theme and participants were been challenged to take something old and recycle it to create a wearable outfit that is new and unique.
The Fashion for Free! event is now in its fifth year and open to all primary, junior and secondary school children (aged 4-16) in the area.
Heather Jacks who was officially crowned the ‘Queen Bee’ of British sewing last year in the popular BBC2 series, judged the children’s designs along with staff from the David Nieper company who have been very impressed by the standard of this year’s entries. A total of 12 schools took part and entrants were judged for their resourcefulness, creativity and originality.
Mundy Junior School pupil Taylor Knowles with his hat.
Photo by Fabio De Paola
As the event is called Fashion for Free! the children were not allowed to spend any money on their creation, but had to find something around the house or school and give it a new lease of life using only old and recycled items.
Heather Jacks, Winner of BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee commented:
“The creativity and imagination that has gone into the designs and craft work I have seen today is amazing, I was the same age as some of the children who were here when I was given my first sewing machine and I spent hour upon hour sewing and designing clothes. I am so pleased to see so many young people displaying not only a natural talent for creating original designs, but also a high level of dressmaking and tailoring skills.”
Christopher Nieper, Managing Director commented:
The creativity of these children is amazing! Congratulations to all of them. British fashion needs future talent and it’s a privilege for our company to encourage these wonderful designs.
The Fashion for Free! competition has been set up to inspire the next generation, to promote careers in fashion and textile manufacturing and to help schools develop children’s creativity for the future
We were delighted to welcome Heather to our judging panel this year, she has phenomenal practical experience and is great role model for the next generation.”
