Special educational needs pupils from Camberwell and Herne Hill took part in a fashion workshop on July 13, writes Danny Wiser…
Twelve SEN students from Highshore School in Camberwell and Michael Tippet School in Herne Hill visited Primark’s Tottenham Court Road store to experiment with their style.
Organised by Styleability, who aim to help young disabled people improve their self-esteem and body confidence through adaptive fashion, the youngsters got to create mood boards with looks that would work for them.
Katie Sparkes, chair of trustees for Styleability said: “Disabled young people are much more prone to experiencing low self-esteem and feelings of isolation due to the additional challenges they face.
“Helping them to feel like they’re looking great and boosting their confidence is one way of combatting this.”
Students were able to share their ideas on how high street stores such as Primark can make their shops more accessible for those with additional needs.
The workshop focused on helping students identify their own unique style, how to adapt the latest fashions to suit specific needs and helped to prepare them for the future by discussing what to wear in the world of work.
“Looking the part – whether you’re out with friends or at work – is such a big part of feeling the part, and the tips and tricks they learned will help make high street fashion so much more accessible for them,” said Nick Clark, Business & Communications Liaison Officer at Highshore School.
He went on to say: “what they’ve learned today won’t just help them on a personal level, but will also help them present themselves in the best possible way as they embark on their future careers too.”