Rotherham students dress for safety

Rotherham College of Arts and Technology has teamed up with South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership to help increase road safety awareness amongst students by selling adapted fashion items they would wear during a night out.

Funded by the partnership, the Level 3 Fashion students hosted an event selling their own high visibility garments which they designed and produced to help keep fellow students safe when out and about.

The students project-managed the event, from the accounting and budgeting, to the ordering of materials and the production of the items.

Caroline Bell, curriculum leader in Fashion and Design at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology said: "This is great experience for the 15 students involved. Not only was this a challenge to come up with fashionable safety items which younger people would wear, but their business skills have also been put to the test and have improved greatly."

Items up for sale included, high visibility hot pants, cupcake necklaces, dresses and t-shirts, all featuring reflective material.

Joe Hockney, Road Safety Officer from Sheffield Council, working on behalf of the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership said: "Working with the College has been a great way of raising road safety awareness with the students involved.

"The items designed by the students have been high quality, with a wide variety of items and great designs. Rather than looking like a high visibility items, the clothes designed by the students used things such as reflective thread and beads for necklaces and reflective materials as part of designs on the front of t-shirts."

The money raised will go towards a college trip to Paris later in the year where the students will study the art, design and fashion trends of the European country.

For more information about Fashion courses at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology call the Student Services Team on 08080 722 777, or email [email protected].

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