BARNFIELD COLLEGE LIC26 FASHION LAB

An immersive 5-day creative studio experience where Barnfield College students transform recycled materials into carnival inspired fashion design.

About the Programme

Fashion Lab: Carnival, Culture & Sustainability is a 5-day intensive masterclass that will be delivered by S.H.A.C.E (Simon-Hartman Academy of Creative Excellence) in collaboration with the UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) from Monday 11th May until Friday 15th May 2026.

This immersive programme places students inside a real-world creative studio environment, where they collaboratively design and produce a sustainable body of work using carnival arts techniques and recycled materials.

At the heart of the programme is the creation of a large-scale carnival headdress, designed for permanent display in the Mayor of Luton’s office, alongside a collection of experimental upcycled fashion pieces that explore texture, storytelling, and contemporary carnival aesthetics.

From day one, students learn through doing, developing ideas, testing materials, and working towards a final photoshoot campaign that captures both the headdress and their wider creative output.

Our Approach

This programme reflects the realities of the creative industries, where ideas are developed, tested, and brought to life through collaboration and hands-on making.

Students work through a structured creative pipeline:

Concept → Design → Production → Campaign → Presentation

Throughout the week, students:

learn techniques through live demonstrations
apply skills immediately in a studio environment
collaborate across creative roles
produce work aligned with professional creative standards

Creative Structure

Students take on specific roles within the project, allowing them to experience different areas of the creative industries:

Fashion Production Team: garment construction, headdress making, textile development
Design & Visual Development Team: concept design, illustration, creative direction
Marketing, Media & Campaign Team: content creation, storytelling, documentation
Creative Direction & Photoshoot Team: styling, visual storytelling, shoot direction
Project Coordination Team: organisation, communication, workflow management

This structure ensures a balance of creativity, collaboration, and real-world responsibility.

The Creative Focus

Headdress for the Mayor of Luton's Parlour

The central outcome of the programme is the collaborative creation of a large-scale carnival headdress, designed and produced by students. This piece will be permanently displayed in the Mayor of Luton’s office, acting as a lasting symbol of creativity, sustainability, and young talent in the town.

Alongside this, students develop a series of supporting fashion pieces that explore:

upcycling techniques

surface design and texture

storytelling through costume

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Programme Delivery

The programme runs as a fast-paced 5-day creative studio experience, combining technical skill-building with collaborative project development.

Key stages include:

Immersion & Skill Building
Introduction to techniques such as aluminium adornments, gold foiling, faux feathers, and textile manipulation
Concept Development
Students begin designing and responding to materials and ideas
Production & Collaboration
Garments, textiles, and headdress construction develop across teams
Finalisation
Completion of all pieces and preparation for presentation

Photoshoot & Campaign
Students produce and direct a final photoshoot capturing their work

This process mirrors professional creative workflows and encourages students to think, create, and collaborate at an industry level.

Sustainability in Practice

At S.H.A.C.E and UKCCA, sustainability is embedded into the creative process, encouraging students to rethink waste as a resource for innovation.

Throughout the programme, students work with reclaimed materials, including:

Recycled denim from Levi’s jeans salvaged from landfill
Aluminium waste transformed into decorative sequins and adornments
Fabric offcuts and reclaimed trims
Experimental textile techniques including painted and textured denim

Through this approach, students develop an understanding of circular design while creating high-quality, visually striking outcomes.

Skills and Learning Outcomes

Students leave the programme with a collaborative body of work, including a Mayoral headdress and portfolio-ready creative outcomes, alongside a range of creative, professional, and personal skills.

Creative Skills

Textile manipulation and surface design
Upcycling and sustainable making techniques
Fashion illustration and concept development

Professional Skills

Team collaboration
Creative problem-solving
Time management
Content creation and campaign development

Personal Development

Confidence building
Ownership of creative work
Exposure to industry-level expectations

Impact & Benefits

This programme provides Barnfield College students with:

Industry-led, hands-on learning experience
Portfolio-ready creative outcomes
Exposure to real-world creative workflows
Opportunities for collaboration and self-expression
Engagement with sustainability and cultural storytelling

Selected standout pieces may also be featured within an online sustainable fashion platform curated by Melissa Simon-Hartman, offering extended visibility beyond the programme.