Lynn Fashion Show celebrates tenth anniversary

Designers and models, staff and students, marked the occasion in style when a Lynn school held its tenth annual Fashion Show.

Almost 100 Springwood High School students took part in the event in the Peter Hopkins Hall at the school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

BTEC students and members of Springwood’s Fashion and Textile Clubs all played a part in the sell-out show, which was opened by performances from some of the school’s singers and dancers, choreographed by Year 13 student Chloe Sayer, and compered by Rachel-Lee September in Year 11.

“This year I’ve seen an influx of students and staff wanting to be involved in the Show,” said Fashion Course Leader Miss Markwell, who organised the event. “I think this is because it looks fun and professional, shows creativity, and is a bit of glitz and glamour at the end of the school year, celebrating creative subjects at the school.”

Among the highlights of the show were the Year 12 designs, which had a ‘Look Up and Down’ theme to encourage people to reduce screen time and notice their surroundings.

“Lots of embellishments were inspired by their walks around King’s Lynn – flowers embroidered, beads as the pollen, bird feathers laser cut using plywood and spray painted, laser-cut acrylic butterflies et cetera,” continued Miss Markwell. 

A church’s stained-glass windows caught the attention of Mollie Ashby, who reproduced the colourful, mosaic design on her blue satin halter top and 1980s-style ruffle skirt, while Charlotte McLeish’s ‘sunflower’ outfit featured wooden beads and yellow satin, with laser-cut chain belt and matching earrings, and Summer Hawkes created a ball gown inspired by Vincent Van Gogh.

The Year 13 designers were equally diverse and creative in their approaches.

Tiah produced a 1970s ABBA-style outfit, while Maddie Barnes took inspiration from Disney princesses, Jana Jerone drew on her Indian heritage, Ben Whitmore designed his own jackets and trousers with a twist, and Sam Heffers incorporated red-feathered angel wings and LED lights into his innovative pieces.

Nearly 30 models from all year groups took to the catwalk to showcase the designs – and it wasn’t just the students strutting their stuff, as Springwood staff also styled and modelled their own fashion collection for the show.

“The Staff Collection theme was sustainable fashion,” explained Miss Markwell. “The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House is the local charity shop that I was collaborating with this year. I arranged for the staff to go in and either purchase or borrow charity clothes to then wear at the show.

“The idea was to promote donating to charity shops, recycling, and to educate students about not being a throwaway culture.”

Among the audience was the Deputy Mayor of King’s Lynn, Councillor Andy Bullen, while guesting on the catwalk was Lily Edwards, a former student who now works in the school’s canteen and has modelled in every Springwood Fashion Show since 2015. 

“The show builds confidence in all those involved, brings the school together every summer, and is a great way to celebrate the end of the school year,” added Miss Markwell.

“I am so proud to be teaching at Springwood High School, and to see the students’ skills and confidence grow makes me so proud of them all.”