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'Rags to Riches' at Cambridgeshire Fashion Show

10 July 2008

Once again we have joined forces with the Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and Recycling Network (CCORRN) and Manor Community College in Cambridge to transform unwanted materials and items donated from the healthcare charity’s 10 shops in Cambridgeshire into catwalk creations. 

Over the past few months students from Manor Community College and other local schools have been converting unwanted ‘rags’ donated from Sue Ryder Care and Compass Restore together with other everyday reused and reclaimed materials into designer-inspired outfits. The students’ creative efforts were showcased at a glittering Rags2Riches fashion show at Manor Community College on Arbury Road last week, on 2 July. 

Now in its second year, the Rags2Riches fashion show is designed to promote the importance of re-use and recycling in Cambridgeshire through innovative fashion design.  This year’s event also hosted a special awards ceremony to recognise and reward students’ hard work.  Winners included; Sophie Perkins and Gemma Clarke who were presented with the Innovation Award sponsored by Energy Park Peterborough, Sallyha Din and Katie Alsop who were presented with the Environmental Award sponsored by Donarbon Waste Management and Lotti Arlow and Lucy Bidwell who were presented with the Eco-Chic Design Award sponsored by Sue Ryder Care.  Cambridge Sustainable City, who helped fund this year’s show, presented a special Sustainable City Award to winner, Isabel De Wolfe.

Kay Barnes, Business Development Manager at Sue Ryder Care, said, “We are delighted to be involved once again with this exciting fashion show.  Last year’s show was a great success and received great feedback from the local community - and this year’s show was even more spectacular. It was very exciting seeing how the students have applied their artistic flare at creating outfits based on a super hero theme.” 

Kay added, “Sue Ryder Care has launched a new strategy to highlight recycling and reuse to our supporters, and this is a fantastic platform for us to reinforce our messages through a community-based activity.  It’s vitally important that people begin to take on board the idea of recycling and reusing materials and to take steps to put those ideas into action.

“As well as the environmental benefits of not throwing unwanted items away and contributing to landfill, by donating unwanted items to our shops, local people can help Sue Ryder Care make a real difference to the lives of the thousands of people we care for each year. All funds raised through our shops help Sue Ryder Care deliver expert and compassionate care to people living with conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease and Stroke”.

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