On 4 October, the Amelia Young Creatives programme hosted its first fashion focused workshop for young people, offering an exciting opportunity to explore clothing as a form of identity, communication and self-expression.

Led by professional designer Penny Warner, six young creatives spent the day designing and customising their own T-shirts in a hands-on fashion workshop that celebrated creativity, individuality and personal style.

Throughout the session, participants explored appliqué and mixed media techniques, experimenting with graphic imagery, text, layering and expressive surface design. Using a mix of fabrics, textile paints and haberdashery supplies, each student transformed a plain T-shirt into a unique piece of wearable art.

Ideas were as varied as the young people themselves, ranging from painted handprints and bold graphic designs to corseting details and functional pockets. By the end of the day, six vibrant, artistic and completely unique T-shirts had been created, with each participant taking home a one-of-a-kind design and plenty of new skills and inspiration.

Penny’s warm, hands-on teaching style helped inspire fantastic results. Through practical advice, imaginative ideas and encouraging support, she empowered participants to experiment with confidence and develop their own creative voice.

The workshop was developed in response to feedback from the 2025 Youth Consultation, where fashion and costume design were identified as one of the top five activities that young people would like to take part in. Creative Clothing Lab is a great example of how the Amelia Young Creatives programme is listening to young people and creating opportunities that reflect their interests and ambitions.

To find out about upcoming fashion workshops and other Amelia Young Creatives activities, watch this space or sign up to our youth mailing list, at the bottom of each webpage.