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)

MIGHTY Youth Panel

Shanice Laverty, 17

Currently studying A level Biology, Chemistry and Psychology
Aspirations: Child Psycholgist (looked after children)

Jevael Holgate, 21
Record Producer , Sound Engineer, Uni student, Mentor and Music Teacher
Bio coming soon
As a youth growing up I’ve seen and been through a lot and this has made me respect other people in their struggle and also respect youths who are motivated to do well. From what I’ve been through I’ve learnt a lot and believe you can turn negative to positive it’s just up to you. Most of the youth will follow but what they see would most likely be the wrong thing to follow, so as I stopped following the world and those around me I became a leader and me knowing what is right from wrong helped me manage to get on the right path through my own leadership.

Cameron Birch, 19

Bio coming soon

Isaac Odjovu, Youth Panel Leader

When I look at society nowadays I believe a gulf has been formed between the older and younger generations. In my opinion no one side is solely to be blamed but I feel the only way for the gulf to be bridged is to start up a dialogue between the two generations. As a young man myself I have come to realise the importance of learning from the experiences of people who have come before; this learning experience isn’t a 1-way street and often times I impart some knowledge into the older person I’m seeking counsel from. For me, I see it as a duty to pass on whatever experiences/knowledge I have onto people younger than me so that they can benefit from it. The young people are the future and they can only achieve their potential if we show them the way.