Diary of a Textiles Teacher

So it begins again, Term Two and the studio was full of Colour today after the white on white project of Term One

A lovely reminder, in my mail box this morning, as to why I choose to carry on teaching. Over the last twenty five years teaching has certainly changed some things for the better others not so much but the one thing that keeps me walking into the studio in the morning is the learners. It’s lovely to see that it’s appreciated, all too often we take people for granted, don’t tell them how well they are doing or thanks for their hard work so when those little reminders come I to tell you you’ve got it right it makes it all the more special.

Nigel came home with a gift for me the other day - a small bag of oak galls. These little galls are created through a combination of plant hormones and chemicals released by insects, they are rich in tannins, substances that help protect insect larvae maturing inside the galls. Tannins also provide a color source for dyes and inks. Once the wasp larvae have burrowed their way out the galls are then left for us to make ink from. Look closely at image two and you’ll see the wasps little escape hole!

Still harvesting from the college dye garden. Todays harvest!

Finally managed to extract my indigo pigment from the jar! First image shows the pigment at the bottom of the jar after being mixed with a little lime. Left hand jar a ph of 11 right hand jar a very small amount of lime added and a ph of 8. Right hand jar was the second extraction from the first jars leaves.
Scroll through to see extraction process and final pigment beginning to dry off. Last two photos, extraction 1 more lime, extraction two very little lime.

It’s official, my colleague and I have written a BAHons Fashion and Textile degree course. So if you fancy spending two years with me and my colleagues learning everything fashion and textiles check out or give me a shout on here

Great to see sustainable practices in the final room of the Rebel 30 Years of Fashion exhibition. The way forward for the fashion industry today

After the V&A came the inspirational exhibition curated by Great to see the behind the scenes work in sketchbooks, how creative graduate designers are, the innovative use of materials and how sustainability is beginning to play a huge part in their ideas. The realities of making it in the industry were openly discussed in designer videos, underpinning all of this is the unwavering support of new fashion talent and fashion lecturers, without them where would this amazing talent be - a must see exhibition for any aspiring fashion designer

First educational visit of the academic year was to the Diva exhibition

The dye garden is still flowering, harvesting time for the indigo now going to try and dry some for a dry leaf vat

Still harvesting from the college dye garden

with .repost
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The fashion and textiles dye garden has got some signage. Thanks to the marketing team

Introduced my first years to ecoprinting today. For their first bundles they achieved some lovely results

with .repost
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The official photos are in from the Top Model fitting day. Well done to all the second year learners who took up the work experience opportunity with .co.uk great to see learners wanting to learn from industry professionals

Why not DECLUTTER this weekend and DONATE your old unwanted wedding dress or outdated shop sample dress!! 🤩

This is for SUCH a worthwhile cause, so please DM today to offer your unwanted dress and find out more.

In doing so, you will be part of the WEDDING DRESS
TRANSFORMATION
REVOLUTION happening right now.

What’s it all about?

Well, it’s the latest NFP bridal fashion sustainability collaboration between CAROLINE ARTHUR bridal gown designer and FASHION AND TEXTILES students at
in Hampshire.

Led by course leader and innovator Sam Jones , FCoT Level 3 fashion students start their year with a “White on white” project, beginning next week, which is where YOU come in.

Your donated dress (we need 13 of them!) will enable a student to learn about construction, fabric behaviour, design, pattern cutting and transforming a garment from an unused state to a wearable piece of clothing, destined for their portfolios, end of year collections, display in a dedicated exhibition of students’ work in Camberley, featuring on the end of year runway show which always attracts media attention and potentially career-boosting opportunities for the students.

Caroline is a regular speaker at schools and collages about careers in creative industry as well as her passion for sustainability within the wedding industry about which she is currently writing a book : “what to do with your old wedding dress”.

Caroline says…

“I’m so excited to be visiting next week to launch the White on White project and talk to students about the value of transforming pre-worn clothing and how my career as a creative bridal gown designer and maker has led me to change my own business model, and promote refashioning and transformations as a vital part of the fashion and wedding industry’s journey towards sustainability. I’ve been SO encouraged by the support of some brilliant bridal boutiques who have already donated old sample dresses. Please keep them coming!…”

Do just drop us a quick DM if you have a dress you no longer want. Thank you!

Outside of teaching I’m the backstage director for .uk and .co.uk where I work with the fabulous Executive Show Producer. It was lovely to see so many of my current students take on this work experience today, fitting day 1. Also lovely to see fcot fashion alumni running the teams as assistant backstage director

Day one saw me demoing ecoprinting in the Creative Textile Studio. Lots of lovely visitors and lots of talking

If you’re heading to the Festival of Quilts over the next few days pop by the Creative Textile Studio and say hello. I’ll be in there Thursday and Sunday morning and just next door teaching all day Friday

Booklets are ready to go to support my teaching at Festival of Quilts. Looking forward to meeting my students on Friday.

Been creating some samples for this weeks teaching am looking forward to sharing my skills with a full class of students

Fashion show tomorrow scan the QR code or copy and paste this link to view from 7pm https://youtu.be/d8KR7rNHl7E

This last weekend saw me exhibit students work they got great reviews from the general public. A special mention form and was particularly impressed with the students sustainability concepts. We’re looking forward to working with her next academic year. Well done .freir

The start of the Easter holidays has been a busy one. I’m undertaking a research project at college and am setting up a natural dye garden. The beds are all ready to go now after moving 10tonnes of soil with the help of the estates team. Carpentry students built the raised beds, it’s been a great team effort. Next stop seed sowing

Had a lovely lunch today in The Gallery Restaurant cooked by Thanks to .freir this was part of their prize for winning the Great Black Briton project run across college in the Autumn term.

During the autumn term to celebrate Black History Month the college set each tutor group a challenge. To celebrate a Great Black Briton, fashion students chose to be inspired by and and guess what today …. Three Year One students won the competition with their dress where they merged Edwards and Naomi’s faces into one. Both Edward and Naomi have done such a huge amount to change the face of fashion and make it more inclusive to all at all levels.

As part of my learners college course they have to undertake two weeks work experience, a few years ago now I made contact with and a wonderful partnership has developed. At first I was looking for fashion experience for my students but look what happened for me too. I became the Top Model Backstage Director as a direct consequence of pushing my learners to explore the industry. In 2020!my Top Model family also awarded me the Sophie Fraser Smith Pride and Inspiration Award for my services to education and the extra things I did for my local community during the pandemic. I feel truly blessed to have met and made friends with so many of the Top Model family. This year I’ve even made it into the Top Model 2022 show reel! Do you have what it takes to walk the Top Model runway? If you think you do check out .co.uk and apply today.

First day back in the studio teaching after the Christmas break and it’s an indigo kind of day

It’s been a busy term but here’s some of my first years wrapping paper work based on their visual recording sketchbook. We explored dyes and varnish to create some paper designs which were then manipulated digitally. Some exciting results from all students.

Ecoprinted scarves exhibited this weekend in the Colours from Nature exhibition where students of exhibited work to inspire the next generation of Ditchling dyers