RUNWAY SHOW

Recently, the ever-talented ‘MIGHTY’ bunch graced us with just one of their many opportunity-providing programmes; the Eco-Couture Fashion Show.
Let’s be honest, when you think of a high-end, avant-garde fashion show with flashing lights & all that jazz, recyclables & charity clothes don’t tend to come to mind. But trust me, if you witnessed what the Luton’s young people blessed the catwalk with, you’d always use charity & couture in the same sentence.
So, you’re probably thinking, ‘Charity couture…like I haven’t seen that one attempted before’… right? Well, I admit, I too, didn’t know what to expect from the environmentally-friendly collection – mainly because usually when designers claim to have a recycled collection they’ve actually just ripped off a pocket or zip from charity garments or have only used the ‘earthy’ colour scheme (multiple shades of green & blue) to give it an ‘at-one-with-nature’ feel. However, I kid you not, the local young people whom attended the programme & many other students associated with ‘MIGHTY’, ripped up all of those assumptions on the runway.


Thanks to fresh & fierce brand, SweetMe all models (both girls and boys!) were piled with the most original, quirky jewellery out there. The eclectic 80’s-feel pieces had everything from a My Little Pony necklace to a ‘battery bracelet’ – yes, you read correctly, a pony necklace & a battery bracelet. Far from the sea-shell necklaces & wooden bangles that you expected, right?
As the sassy students strutted & did their ‘thang’ on the catwalk in time to the blasting beats through the speakers, every audience member was moved to a profound, ‘…wow’. With the carefully chosen Keech Charity garments; steadily-applied statement make up and superstars-would-be-jealous hairstyles, the gruelling January-onwards time & efforts invested by the young designers was out there for all to see on the night…& my goodness it was a glorious sight.
Throughout the event there was the buzz of an unmistakeably positive & electric atmosphere. As I left the London-fashion-week-ready collections & all-round beautiful young people from the event, I also left with inspiration. Not just the inspiration to raid the nearest Oxfam & fix myself a prom dress, but the general
inspiration to embrace everything that life has to offer – turning all our ‘trash’ into treasures.
By Lauren Holgate (Photography by Trevor Griffiths-Idelick Media)