Princess Alice Hospice is proud to announce the culmination of an innovative and creative partnership with Level 3 BTEC fashion, textiles and costume from Kingston College. On 15th April, five winning upcycled outfits, designed and created by students using donated clothing from Princess Alice Hospice’s shops, were unveiled in the windows of the Hospice’s Kingston charity shops on Old London Road and Clarence Street.

The project, which began in February, challenged students to work to professional industry standards and deadlines to breathe new life into donated items of clothing and accessories. Each piece the students created was refashioned, embellished and transformed into contemporary runway looks. Students explored themes from Aquatic to Jewel and Wildcard, developing mood boards and concept boxes, honing their technical and creative skills and proving that sustainable fashion can both be accessible and aspirational.

“The methods that we chose to use helped create visually striking pieces that compliments each other and also highlights sustainability, transforming simple materials and garment pieces into something valuable and eye catching,” said student Emily Hough, Team Leader of one of the winning groups.

“This experience has helped students develop key employability skills and gain valuable insight into specialist pathways within the textile industry, including styling, textile applications, and visual merchandising,” says the Kingston College teaching team. “The Princess Alice Hospice team was incredibly supportive in sharing their knowledge, raising awareness of sustainable practices and the important role the charity plays in the community.”

“The creativity and technical skills on display were nothing short of exceptional… they’ve shown us that sustainable style is achievable and exciting!” says Marine Knight, Campaign Manager at Princess Alice Hospice

Howard Bowles, Director of Retail at Princess Alice Hospice adds: “I’m blown away by the standard of work. Amazing creativity and great technical skills.”

The window displays in Kingston will serve as a physical proof point of the Hospice’s role in our community beyond clinical care, showcasing how creativity can spark deeper conversations about compassion and sustainability.

For more information click here.