Aurélie Fontan and Gorran School fashion a better future in Cornwall
Aurélie Fontan with Rowena who is modelling the winning co-design outfit.
Fashion and textile designer Aurélie Fontan’s CCAC co-design project with year 5 children at Gorran School reaches its exciting conclusion.
This summer, children at Gorran School in Cornwall learned about the environmental footprint of the fashion industry and how creative, sustainable design methods and materials can disrupt this lamentable record. Inspired by plant-based dyes and kombucha leather, the children then worked in groups to design outfits suitable for the year 2100.
As part of this co-design project, the children learned about the causes of climate change and were made aware of how Cornwall’s climate may change during their lifetimes. Working in small groups, this learning was captured in their outfit designs with practical suggestions for flippers, cotton, sun hats, water-proof clothing and recycled materials.
Aurélie Fontan demonstrating the process of screen printing during the workshops at Gorran School.
Two groups of children had their outfit designs selected to be developed into a material reality by Aurélie. The winning outfit incorporated old duvet buttons, a re-used zip and seaweed in a glamorous dress designed for a marine biologist. The second-placed outfit suggested that recycled polyester with a water-proof coating should be used for trousers for an underwater architect.
These outfits were then modelled at the brilliant reveal event at Gorran School, where parents witnessed the co-design project ‘Fashioning a Better Future’ reach its conclusion.
The group winners’ final designs next to Aurélie’s professional interpretations.
CCAC is delighted with the outcome of this co-design collaboration and would like to thank the staff at Gorran School, Aurélie and her colleagues for all their hard work in making the project a reality.
Aurélie Fontan is a recipient of the 2024/25 CCAC Young Designer’s Award which is kindly supported by the Linbury Trust.
