Fashion student wows audience at Shropshire Chambers Business Awards

Fashion student works on live brief with local workwear company MyWorkwear, who selected her design to be made and worn at the Shropshire Chamber Business Awards. 

An exciting moment in sustainable fashion unfolded at the recent Shropshire Chamber Business Awards, where University of Wolverhampton fashion student Hannah De Haan captivated the audience with a design triggered by creativity and ethical practice.

The impressive outfit was the result of a collaboration between local workwear company MyWorkwear and the university’s Fashion course. The initiative challenged students to reimagine and repurpose discontinued work garments into ‘showstopping’ designs worthy of a red-carpet debut. Embracing the challenge, students transformed staples like polo shirts, t-shirts, work trousers, jackets, and high-vis vests into bold, responsible couture.

Students were closely guided by university staff and MyWorkwear representatives throughout the project’s development phase and their designs were presented at the company’s Telford offices, where one winning concept was selected for production. The winner Hannah De Haan said: “My experience designing for MyWorkwear was challenging at first, but once I really got into it, the ideas started flowing and the design process followed naturally.”

That design certainly made an impression on the night, worn by Lauren Chandler, Sales Office Manager at MyWorkwear, who confidently showcased the piece throughout the ceremony. Gwynneth Slavin, from Shropshire Chamber of Commerce commented: “I was absolutely blown away by the dress. Who knew that old workwear could be used so creatively to make something so beautiful! Everyone who saw it was impressed by the skills and imagination used to bring the dress to life".

Not only did the project highlight the design talent emerging from the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Creative Industries, it also reinforced the value of university relationships with industry and support for the locality.

James Worthington, Co-Owner at MyWorkwear expressed that “Working with the fashion students at the University of Wolverhampton has been a real highlight for us. Their creativity, skill and fresh perspective on using workwear sustainably, genuinely impressed us. We’re passionate about supporting local talent, so it was a pleasure to give students the chance to take on a live brief."

This was reciprocated by the Fashion Course Leader Louise Morley: “One of the main aspects of a lecturer’s role here at University of Wolverhampton is to inspire, encourage and support our students, and it’s great to see the results of that!’

(Pictured: Lauren Chandler, Sales Officer at MyWorkwear, modelling Hannah De Haan's design, with colleague at the Shropshire Chamber Business Awards.)