London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL continues its three-year collaboration with pre-loved clothing charity FARA, centred on pushing creative limits while challenging fast fashion.
This year’s project, Denim ReFramed, saw 17 BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development students reimagine denim, one of fashion’s most iconic yet waste-heavy fabrics. With an added twist this year, students were challenged to incorporate a piece of unsellable artwork from FARA Fine Art into their designs.
From Waste to Wearable Art
With complete creative freedom, the students set to work deconstructing, reworking and breathing new life into unsellable materials. The denim, once worn and discarded, was transformed into new, wearable creations, while the abandoned artwork found new purpose – either physically stitched into garments, or by serving as an inspirational starting point.
A Celebration of Creativity
The project culminated in two memorable events, both hosted by longtime FARA supporter, filmmaker and fashion broadcaster Scott Wimsett.
On 6 February 2025, an invite-only fashion show at LCF’s East Bank campus provided a platform for 11 finalists to present their work to a handpicked panel of judges. Stuart Trevor (Founder of All Saints), Deborah Bee (Founder of Bee & Sons), Melanie Rickey (Style Director of Good Housekeeping and founder of The Enoughness), and Kelly Harrington (Denim Expert and Trend Forecaster) brought their expertise to the table, evaluating the designs on sustainability, creativity, and execution.
The evening also featured a thought-provoking panel discussion, where the judges explored the future of fashion and the vital role of upcycling in an industry dominated by overproduction and waste.
Out of 11 finalists, the panel had the unenviable task of selecting 3 best designs. The standard of entries for 2025 was exceptionally high and the following students were awarded for their exceptional work:
A week later, on 13 February 2025, FARA’s flagship store in Angel transformed into a showcase for the students’ work, with the eye-catching designs displayed in the shop window – bringing high fashion to the high street. Fashion sustainability content creators Lydia Bolton, Rosie Okotcha and Tuccii wore a selection of the finished pieces, while guests had the opportunity to shop and celebrate the project. You can see the creations brought to life on FARA’s Instagram.
The night concluded with a heartfelt presentation recognising the hard work of every student involved. Hosted by Scott Wimsett, FARA CEO Libby Gordon, and LCF Programme Director David Hopwood, the event was a true testament to the talent and dedication put into this project by all involved.
This project generates conversations around the potential of charity shop finds, our perception of waste, and the devastating effects of overconsumption. Fashion’s next generation isn’t just designing for aesthetics – they’re designing with purpose, intent and a responsibility toward the planet.