I went over to the Penryn campus to find out more about the natural dye garden but what I found out was so intriguing to me.
The Fashion and Textiles Institute is on Penryn campus and is part of Falmouth University, with multiple courses running within the building and students chatting among the noise of the machinery, and there was a sense of community.
I spoke to Sally-Ann, course leader of Textile Design and she took me on a tour of all things sustainable.
Just expecting to be shown the natural dye garden and labs, I found out that they do so much more. From recycling paper and remaking it for students to reuse or even bound into a notebook, to boxes filled to the brim of “weird and wonderful fabric scraps”.
They also take community donations which means a lot of yarn, but they also get sent wonderful fabrics. These can be used by all students; it also stops students from spending their own money on materials.
Sustainable practices have been integrated into all courses, for example, the first years have a project where they purchase a t-shirt from a charity shop and must reconstruct it and make a new garment.
Students are taught how to use the natural dye garden and are encouraged to use this in their work, Sally wants to “create graduates who are conscious about their work”. I was able to see some of the students' work where they were messing with natural pastes from the garden and modifiers (alkaline) to see what colour variations they can make.
Another amazing sustainable practice they do is reusing fabrics. Calico is 100% cotton and is straight from the loom and on the Fashion Design course they make sure that students use every last piece until it is simply too awkward to work with. Third year students' hand in their leftover fabric to then give to the first years as a project, learning how to use deadstock.
I spoke to Quinn Marshall (@q.baal), a student who does zero waste cutting patterns. In his first year he was shown the traditional ways of pattern cutting, “I did not resonate with the traditional techniques- the 'pattern blocks' we have developed provide a close fit to the contours of the human body, yet do not consider the shape of the fabric they are constructed from.”
In second year, Quinn experimented with upcycling as it stops the use of ‘virgin’ fabrics, reducing landfill. There is a digital design software that Quinn uses to experience with pattern ideas without having to waste fabrics.
Now in his final year of University, combining everything he has learnt over the years of being a fashion student whilst being waste-less is important. All the outfits are upcycled from old clothing from charity shops or friends.
If you are a student at Falmouth University, each Wednesday the Fashion and Textiles institute hold a “Make Your Own Upcycled Fabric Patch Using Garment Vinyl” which is essentially where you go and learn how to use what you already have but make it a bit more fun.
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