The finale – Dulwich Youth 2001.

 

 

 

A wonderful night of entertainment was arranged by Daisy James and Debbie Jenkins on behalf of the South East London Community Foundation for the teenagers aged between 14 – 16 years who were involved in the fashion project ‘Urban Wear’.

 

Urban Wear was a fashion project speared by the multi-talented Samson Soboye, designer, stylist and lecturer.  The LFF was asked to facilitate with mood boards, trends, sample creation and general input into the boy’s fashion item – a reversible combat jacket complete with graffiti writing. The girls produced a fashionable stappy layered dress made in pink linen and chiffon.

 

 

 

 

The samples were made possible by the expertise of David King from Gloria Fashions the patterns were created by Mel’s Pattern Studio.

 

The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from Delroy Mclean from the Youth Service Programme and the individual participants in the fashion projects gave a genuine and personal overview of the project from concept drawings through to final garment creation.

 

 

 

The LFF presented Certificates of Completion to each teenager and in return the LFF was presented with a fabulous bouquet of flowers.  Very appreciated by the LFF!

 

 

Entertainment was provided by TNL (The Next Level) street Dance Group and Enigma Dynamic Street dance.  Both were outstanding and provided a perfect end to a fabulous project.

 

 

On a personal note when the LFF was first asked to be involved in the project we naturally accepted as part of our community service remit of the London Fashion Forum. As time evolved we became completely entrenched in making the project a complete success that it so rightly deserved.

 

I honestly don’t know who got the most out of this project!  The project went on for six months and during this time Vanessa and I really got to know the teenagers, their hopes, aspirations, values and their different cultures and backgrounds. A true community spirit was generated with all parties pulling together.

 

 

The teenagers developed a strong bond and each worked well in a team environment. Naturally differences in creative input occured but this stimulated healthy debate within the group and was perfectly normal and healthy!

 

At the Gala evening the parents turned up in force to support their sons and daughters.  For the first time I personally understood the importance of community projects in today’s local economies.

 

Congratulations to you all…..now…what shall we do next!