By Lisa McShane. Photography: @ava.photosjpg
This year, we were excited to introduce something completely new to Reigate Summer Festival – the Conscious Couture Fashion Show.
Held in the Ivory Lounge on Saturday 20th June, the event celebrated local fashion talent with a sustainable twist. Designers could create an outfit in any style they liked, as long as it was handmade, recycled or upcycled from existing materials. We knew we’d see some imaginative creations, but the creativity on display went far beyond anything we expected.
The Designers
Nine designers took part, representing an amazing mix of ages and experience. From college students to a talented designer aged just 11, alongside several experienced makers, the line-up showed that creativity really has no age limit. Together, they produced 14 incredible outfits, all brought to life on the catwalk by a fantastic team of volunteer models.
The Judges
The difficult task of choosing the winners fell to our judging panel: Ivy Glazna Bellagamba, founder of Quattro Rich (@quattrorich), Phil Denning, founder of Tom Fox Tailoring (@tomfoxtailoring) and Mia Brodie, stylist and pre-loved fashion seller (@spinslowstyle). They were hugely impressed by the creativity, craftsmanship and originality of every single design, and all agreed that the standard was exceptionally high. With so many outstanding entries, deciding on the winners was no easy feat.
The Winner
The overall winner was Amelia Wilkie, whose unforgettable design featured a skirt made from recycled inner tubes paired with a top created from human hair. It was a bold, imaginative look that perfectly captured the spirit of Conscious Couture and everything the competition was designed to celebrate.
Of course, while there could only be one winner, every designer should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. The passion, effort and imagination on display made the event something really special, and we hope everyone who took part enjoyed the experience as much as the audience did.
With a live DJ keeping the atmosphere buzzing, guests sipping Conscious Couture cocktails, it was a fantastic celebration of sustainable fashion and a fun event from start to finish.
What’s Next?
After such a successful debut, we’re already looking ahead to next year. Plans are underway to bring the Conscious Couture Fashion Show back as part of the 2027 Summer Festival, with even more designers, more creativity and an even bigger celebration of sustainable fashion.
Watch this space!
