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)

What Do Young People Want? Who Can Give It To Them?

When I reminisce about being a teen I remember living for each day, telling my friends all of my business and getting advice from them also...completely oblivious to the fact they weren't my predecessors but my peers. They had little or no more knowledge on any of the advisable situations or scenarios I was getting myself into, therefore leaving me either more confused or deeper in trouble than I was initially.

One thing I can say I've asked my mum a million times' Why didn’t you tell me that earlier' I think that young people need a lot of information of their parents/guardians experiences in life, for example past failures, relaionships, mishaps, regrets and most of all young people need lots of love and attention. There is a specific time in your adolescence where you don't know where to turn. “Will my parent/guardian be angry if I tell them this?” "Do they even understand the year 2009 and what pressure comes with it?' "Are they too wrapped up in their bills, own problems to notice what's going on with me?” “In fact what is going on with me?"

My opinion is that young people need a defined and strong relationship with an adult ideally a parent or guardian/parent figure. Even as an adult it's nice to have someone to talk to that will act as an advocate, just listening with no opinion until you've completely finished. This isn't saying that when young people are wrong the responsible adult should just dismiss it and say its ok however saying "you shouldn't have slept with that guy" is just a instruction and a judgment whereas "I care about you and you shouldn't have slept with that guy as you could get really hurt or get a bad reputatation. I really love you and want you to be loved and valued by someone too." "Do you understand love yet? Lets sit down and talk about some of the things I've been through that make me feel like this" or "You're so much better than that, have you ever considered if this man would marry you? You are so beautiful and deserve the best life possible” is edifying and displays love and an awareness of stigma and actually some knowledge of that type of scenario.

Now I remember how hard headed I was. I was far, far, far from the best teenager and I didn't listen and learnt the hard way most of the times. However I remember being told “don't do this” or “I hope you're not doing this” there was no explanation, no reasons what so ever and my emotions, body, mind were telling me I should. I wasn't mature enough to weigh up pro's and con's...lets face it at a young age you can often just goes with what will satisfy you for that instant without even thinking for a moment about consequences. Consequences what are they? Well just in case you didn't know...

Not concentrating in school, bunking off, being frustrated with family life and not being able to focus at school, expulsion, continual bad reports. Consequence-No qualifications, underachievement, lack of fulfillment become a NEET Not in Employment, Education, or Training (not everyone but the majority).


















Sleeping around...consequences...teen pregnancy, STDs. Teenage pregnancy can work itself out although it is hard as I was a tenage mother and the child becomes a blessing although this is not something that I am promoting! The STDs can be treated, well most of them, not HIV, AIDS or Herpes but the REPUTATION is a terrible thing to spoil. However, the way you see yourself is more important and if you find yourself sleeping around, it's because you have a low self esteem, don't know your self -worth and are being used or maybe you're doing the using.

These are the things parent/guardians,older family members and friends should be speaking to their young people about. If not they look to magazines which the majority of glorify dressing scantily, half naked, exploring your sexuality, having multiple sex partners etc whereas if young people can value themselves and feel loved they don't have to look outside for recognition and comfort. As much as we all want to look nice, trainers, caps, a certain name jeans, jumper, dress or jacket doesn't make a person..that is all so pretentious, unrealistic and demoralising. There are so many actions that are carried out by young people every day in the UK to achieve the unobtainable goal of buying all designer clothes, drive fast cars compete with the footballers, musicians who are actually working to make their money and these actions so very often carry a prison sentence and a criminal record. What a terrible consequence!

I believe every young person can achieve amazing things in many different fields not only academically as this creates such a limitation on the youth who are not academic. They can achieve creatively, athletically, poetically and in so many more arenas. Whatever it is, every young person needs someone to believe in them and someone to believe in, in order to truly know they are worth more than society says they are, more than the music tells them they are and often times more than they think they are!