Glasgow college students save £25k of used wedding dresses by transforming them into fresh new looks

A group of students have transformed used wedding dresses worth £25,000 into bespoke bridal gowns.

Glasgow Kelvin College students have turned dresses which would have otherwise gone to landfill or an attic into dreamy dresses. Students involved in the fast fashion project at the Springburn-based college have now been handed The International Green Gown Award for Next Generation Skills and Learning for their efforts.

It is one of only two UK educational institutions to be presented with an International Green Gown award, given to the best sustainability initiatives among universities and colleges around the world. The other was the University of Manchester.

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The dresses were donated by Bijoux Bridal in Hamilton where Rebecca Kennedy, a former student at the college, is the manager. Talented students worked tirelessly, unpicking dresses and recreating them into their own designs.

Fashion lecturer from Glasgow Kelvin College, Sandra Thomson, said: "We know fast fashion can't be eradicated overnight, but by developing the designers of the future we can help accelerate the transition to a sustainable industry.

"We teach sustainability practices such as redesigning and revitalising garments, as well as zero-waste manufacturing, challenging modern shopping habits and supporting the circular economy.

"By providing students with knowledge and understanding around the negative environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry, and the skills to challenge them, we can equip them to inspire and drive future change."

She added: "From the bridal project alone, we saw students’ habits change entirely. With the skills to repurpose a garment under their belt, they now see second-hand shops as a cost-effective option for fabric sourcing.

"Even their own habits have changed. Where they had previously only looked at apps like Vinted as an online marketplace for selling their clothes, they now actively opt to buy outfits on it."

Vice Principal for Curriculum from Glasgow Kelvin College, Robin Ashton, said: "To see the Fast Fashion project recognised with an International Green Gown Award is incredible for the students, the lecturers, and Glasgow Kelvin College as a whole. Through our courses, we tackle real world problems, providing skills that will be needed for jobs of the future, where sustainability must be embedded within every part of the process.

"The award brought a real buzz to the college. This kind of ingenuity, born here in Glasgow, deserves to be seen on the world stage, and we’re so proud that it is.

"Sustainability and mindfulness of our environmental impact is at the core of everything we do in Glasgow Kelvin College, and the success of this project is testament to the commitment and abilities of our staff and students."

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