Kiri Prichard-McLean joins forces with USW students for Oxfam campaign

Fashion students at the University of South Wales have teamed up with Welsh comedian and style icon, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, to support Oxfam Cymru’s Second Hand September campaign.

The annual campaign aims to highlight the environmental impact of fast fashion by challenging shoppers to buy second hand instead of new.

Working in teams, first-year students from Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing scoured through donations from local Oxfam shops, putting together outfits and upcycling garments to create brand new looks.

Team DisDressed – made up of Fashion Design students Gio Hanratty-Russell, Emily Lawrence and Anna Scott, and Fashion Marketing students Eva Patalano and Lily Stephens – created a range of outfits using vintage gems from the donations.

Gio said: “We were spoilt for choice with the clothes on offer, and loved bringing our own style to the looks with some of our favourite pieces. We’re big charity shop fans as you can always find something that no-one else has.”

Emily added: “You have to look at what a garment could be, not what it is right now. There are so many unique pieces waiting to be found, and lots of materials that you can use to make something new. This project has been a great way to bring out our creativity.”

Kiri, an advocate for original style and sustainability, has been buying secondhand clothes since she was a teenager. She said: “Most of my clothes, including costumes for my gigs, are secondhand. It’s cheaper; it forces you to be more creative with what you already have; and we have enough clothes on this planet to dress the next six generations – so we don’t need to be making more.

“The looks the students have come up with are amazing. I love the use of different textures – such as tulle, wool, denim and tweed – to create one cohesive collection that has been really well thought-out. Well done on a brilliant job!”

Gwern Gwynfil, Media and Communications Officer at Oxfam Cymru, said: “Fashion is fabulous, but it's also one of the most polluting industries on the planet. That's why choosing second hand matters more than ever, and we’re delighted to have Kiri’s support for Second Hand September.

“With an average of a third of all our clothes languishing unworn in our wardrobes, we should all look to clear out and donate these to our local Oxfam before scouring the charity shops for new old clothes that we will actually wear! This is good for the planet, supports Oxfam's work across the world and lets us add unique accents to our personal style. A win win win!”

Emma Jones, Course Leader for Fashion Marketing at USW, added: “At USW we embed sustainability throughout our Fashion curriculum, and so projects like these are so important in raising awareness among the next generation of designers and stylists that the industry needs to change in order to help our planet.

“The students have thoroughly enjoyed responding to Kiri’s fantastic challenge, creating some incredible looks from second hand clothing and giving fashion a longer life.”