Beth told us that she found out about the Trail through her mum, after she had spotted a poster in the B&M Fabrics shop in Leeds city centre. Beth said that the Abbey was a huge attraction in wanting to apply to take part. She “loved the idea of seeing my work walk down the Abbey, it’s so beautiful.” As it was the first time she had the opportunity to do a catwalk, she hopes it’s not the last. Read on to find out more about Beth and her experience particpating in the Fashion Show. 

Tell me about when you learnt to sew. 

I grew up around my mum sewing my whole life, constantly taking over the living room with projects. I have always been creative and loved all art projects through school, sewing slippers in primary school, to hand puppets, pillows, dresses, full punk waistcoats in high school. I sewed on and off for a few years but pursued other arts, in graphic design and photography, but always loved fashion photography, going to university to study Graphic Arts.

My main focus in design has always been sustainability, and throughout lockdown I re-found, or maybe fully formed, my love of sewing, using second hand, pre-loved and found materials.  I have been sewing non-stop ever since as my main hobby, and hope to create a sustainably made business, making clothes and other bits I find interesting. 

I am also very short so lots of clothes don’t fit, so I have to tweak my clothing often, this is such an important skill to have, anytime I meet someone who can’t sew, they always wish they could learn just to hem their trousers and jeans! I feel so lucky to have access to machines, but anyone can learn to sew at any age, so if you have a friend who has a machine, ask for some lessons – don’t ask them to sew your clothes for you, ask if you can sit with them and use their machine to do it, I’m sure they would love this! Share the learning. 

The idea for a fashion show, came from Mandy Long, Kirkstall Art Trail’s committee chair. The Abbey Nave would be the perfect catwalk, and inspired by TV’s ‘Sewing Bee’, the idea began to take shape. We would ask local designers to transform second-hand clothes in to brand new outfits. We set out a budget to spend in Kirkstall’s Cancer Research Superstore, where many of the items are only £3.  With that in mind, tell me about your own journey with upcycling or reusing unwanted clothes.  

My journey started very young, with making anything from nothing. As a child, I once made something I called a ‘spider world’, which I made using household items like skirting boards to make seating for the band stand. My first upcycled garment was my high school GCSE Waistcoat, where I used old jeans within the design. 

I am autistic and often find I am a bit of a bird, specifically a magpie or a penguin, who are fascinated by shiny things or collect rocks. So I am a bit of a lost treasure kind of designer, what has been discarded, found or from the earth.  

Now I make using old clothes, such as making suits, tracksuits, shirts, and dungarees. I also love to upcycle drink cans, soft plastic, plastic bottles and caps of all types, polystyrene, and more! Anything that is free is an absolute bonus and makes amazing things that can be loved and treasured for a long time! 

“I felt that the Kirkstall Art Trail was the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill and push the boundaries of what I can make!“

Tell me about your design process, from concept to completion. 

I had an idea to make something from old jumpers, hoodies and tracksuits bottoms, but when I went to the shop the materials I was after weren’t there. So, I re-assessed my options on the spot. I had always wanted to make a pair of fitted trousers and eventually a full suit, I have the material to make loads at home already, but I was too scared to start.  

I felt that the Kirkstall Art Trail was the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill and push the boundaries of what I can make! I went around the charity shop and grabbed all the trousers in sight and laid them all out. I narrowed down them to 6 pairs in more brown shades as they went the best. Also buying a shirt that I made smaller for my model. I also used buttons, bag clasps and overlocker thread from Scrap in Farsley and the Cone Exchange in Harrogate. 

My model is my very close friend who I often try patterns out on and make them unique one-off garments, funnily enough we work together and now all my colleagues know when they are wearing a ‘PromiseBeth original’. They have been wanting a suit too, so this was perfect, in exchange for the modelling they got to keep the suit! 

I am not good at reading patterns, and often follow YouTube videos. So I drafted my own jack pattern, and adapted two patterns to suit my model. I used elements from the trousers such as the pockets, patchworking all the trousers into a full three-piece suit. I am so proud of how it turned out.  

The fashion show was called ‘Gaia – Mother Earth Fashion Remade’.  Tell me about this name, what does it mean to you? 

The name of the show was a group decision, I think some of the group wanted a name that was interesting and unique, so ‘Gaia – Mother Earth Fashion Remade’ was put forward as an option!  

The Environmental theme was less about the elements and nature, and more about an ethos of sustainability. An emphasis on how clothes are thrown away each year (100billion yearly across the world and growing!). We need to repair, re-make, re-love what we own and what ends up in charity shops, and this fashion show was highlighting the beauty that is still within these clothes.   

One thing I felt was important was that every scrap was used, so I made a bag from the scraps to raffle off for the art trail next year. As well as we made a group quilt that was also raffled off on the day too. 

“I found the whole experience exciting, I do aim to be more involved in the planning next year… I can’t wait to see how this event evolves over the years“

You didn’t just turn up on the Sunday of the Trail, and send your models down the runway, you had to plan the show and rehearse. Tell me about this experience. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the fashion show or the art trail, I think for the shows first year it was lovely, and I can’t wait to see what we can do for next year!

I started my garment as soon as I could as I wasn’t sure how long it would take. I managed to finish it all, then I was asked by Mandy to make some clothes for the dancers. I made two shirts from a net curtain, which were beautifully flaunted down the runway.  

I found the whole experience exciting, I do aim to be more involved in the planning next year, to support Mandy and implement some feedback we had on how we can improve things for next year, such as lots more rehearsals! 

I can’t wait to see how this event evolves over the years. 

Finally, there were almost 200 people in the audience on the day. It wouldn’t have been the huge success it was, without your input. Tell me about this day and what the future holds for you now.

This event has sparked my love for suit making and tailoring. I have been around all the local charity shops and got piles of fabrics to make suits from. I have also started expanding the types of materials I am using and also still need to do all the other projects that are sat around! I also plan to make my own sofa, I have already done a practice run.  

I am excited for next years Kirkstall Art Trail, I will definitely be a part of the fashion shows future, weather that be supporting with the planning or sashaying down the runway again!