Over 180 guests gathered for an evening of style and creativity as Framlingham College presented its first fashion showcase, featuring collections from one young College designer alongside runways from a selection of local businesses.
Pioneered by Year 10 pupil Poppy M, the event showcased Poppy’s unique style featuring seven debut collection pieces from her brand, McEwan Fashion.
Sighting Lady Gaga as her main style inspiration, Poppy’s keen eye for edgy and statement fashion has unleashed a desire to break into the design world.
“I’m a girl that loves a statement”, says Poppy. “Bringing together art, music and fashion into my designs, I thrive on creating fashion that betrays what we may think is normal in real life and transforming them into an obscure reality with but with relatable real-world stories behind them.”
Opening the show with a white strapless mini dress, featuring a balloon skirt with floral appliques and hot pink corset ties, instantly introduced Poppy’s vision with an edgy take on a bridal-esque dress.
Other key pieces in the collection included a fun 80s style black mini dress, which featured mirrored embroidery and a huge statement tulle bow, and a patch-work denim skater dress.
Closing the show with a showstopper, Poppy’s grand finale dress was a beautiful ‘Barbie meets The Little Mermaid’ flowing halter neck gown. Created with a pink-to-blue duo-chrome iridescent fabric, the thigh-high split gown created a standing ovation for the young designer.
Alongside Poppy’s collection, the runway also features five other collections from local businesses, including Framlingham’s Out and About, Woodbridge’s Moose, Kiss Dress Hire, Coes and Vintage Sisters.
Poppy is also passionate about sustainability, with profits from the fashion show going to support Sustainable Fashion Week 2024. “Almost all my outfits are upcycled”, says Poppy. “I have chosen Sustainable Fashion Week as this non-profit organisation helps to, not only give a platform for up-and-coming designers but create a fair and eco-friendly fashion industry.”
Talking to the East Anglian Daily Times newspaper, Poppy said that in the future, she would like to continue to grow her fashion brand and hopes she can make big impacts with messages behind the fashion.
Sustainable Fashion Week
Founded by Amelia Twine and Amber Rochette, Sustainable Fashion Week began as a small creativity week in Bristol back in 2020 and was built on the four R’s – Rewear, Repurpose, Regenerate, Reconnect. Since then, the CIC has grown to a nationwide programme of clothes swaps, panel discussions, educational workshops, styling events as well as the annual runways show of Sustainable Fashion Week, which takes place 20-29 September 2024.
