Slow Fashion: ECO DESIGNER, 1-WEEK FASHION LAB (12 - 18 yr olds)

A school holiday workshop for youth aged 12 -18 to develop sustainable, planet friendly slow fashion skills, culminating with a runway party to showcase final creations.

This fun and simplified workshop will encourage recycling, upcycling and use existing fabric stashes and garments to create newly updated and 'one off individualised itmes of fashion’. Ready to be worn everyday. This is a planet friendly class.

Slow Fashion: ECO DESIGNER, 1-WEEK  FASHION  LAB                                                      SCHOOL  HOLIDAY  SLOW  FASHION  WORKSHOP (12 - 18yr olds)

Dates: Monday 19th - Friday 23rd January Time: 9am - 3pm Age: 12 to 18 yr olds

Location: NMIT NELSON, Room G102, G-BLOCK.

Cost: $425 (1-week workshop, students to bring old clothes / sourced fabrics). 

SUITABLE FOR ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS (including the first time sewer)

Students will immerse in creating for a week, experiencing life as an Eco-Fashion Designer! At the end of the week – a runway exhibition will showcase creations, giving students a ‘from start to finish’ ‘living as an eco-designer’ experience!

Participants will:

  • Learn the principles of slow fashion and sustainable textile choices

  • Upcycle old garments into new wearable pieces

  • Explore personal style, learning easy design solutions and fit techniques

  • Practice beginner-friendly sewing, mending, and embellishing skills

  • Create at least one complete wearable item and fashion accessory by the end of the week (To become part of your everyday wardrobe)

  • Reflect on mindful consumption, personal style, and creative expression

  • Participate in a runway fashion show

  • Learn the art of fashion photography

Planet friendly throughout, this class embraces the whakatauki ‘Manaaki whenua, Manaaki taangata, Haere whakamua’ ‘Care for the land, care for the people, so we may go forward’ 

The focus is on developing sustainable planet friendly, fashion awareness. While embracing fun and creative slow fashion skills

Students work will be showcased in the final exhibition / runway party, where students will also taste life as paparazzi and take a fashion reel / shoot of each other (with participants permission only - supplying photo’s to their ‘shoot partner’)

Runway Party / Final Exhibition Showcase: 2 - 3pm Friday 23rd January

Friends and Family invited!

Materials Checklist

  • Old clothing to upcycle (shirts, jeans, dresses, etc.)

  • Old tablecloths, duvet covers, towels and any other ‘fabric’ options that have potential to become something new

  • Sketchbook or notebook

  • Note: there will be a swap table for youth to trade garments, along with a few fabric pieces, kindly supplied by Textile ResQ, if wanted.

Slow Fashion: ECO DESIGNER, 1 WEEK  FASHION  LAB                                                 

SCHOOL  HOLIDAY  SLOW  FASHION  WORKSHOP (12 - 18yr olds)

Monday 19th - Friday 23rd January 2026

BOOK NOW