Fast Fashion with the Young Carers: A Youth Programme Highlight

Photograph of the Fast Fashion with the Young Carers event. A group of young people look through a pile of clothes. In the background others are sat by sewing machines — Fast Fashion with the Young Carers event.

We recently welcomed a group of young carers aged 12-16 to Brighton Museum for a creative fashion themed day.

The morning was spent exploring the expression Fast Fashion considering where their clothes come from, the global impact of the fashion industry and coming up with ideas of how we can make more ethical choices.

As well as enjoying a mooch around the fashion galleries, the young people were particularly excited to visit the fashion stores with curator Martin Pel, who gave a fascinating whistle stop tour of the fashion industry through the ages.

In the afternoon it was time to get creative, and we were joined by local community organisation Sew Fabulous, who supported the young people to upcycle garments from our huge pile of clothes left over from previous projects. It was amazing to see what they came up with. The room was filled with enthusiasm and creativity and everyone left the Museum with at least one unique item of clothing ready to wear.

It was great to work with the Carers Centre again and to be able to support them to offer young people a break from their caring responsibilities at home.

“The Young Carers who came along had an amazing experience, enjoying wandering around the museum and then creating their own fashion pieces, truly inspiring. It was so lovely to see their creativity come alive and their confidence grow as they used their new skills to make something to wear again. A wonderful day that I’m sure they will remember for a very long time! Thank you.”

— Paula Melis, the young carers teen support worker