'You can find today's trends in charity shops'

Students in Leicester have highlighted the importance of sustainable fashion through a new collaboration.

People studying on De Montfort University's fashion communication and styling course teamed up with Age UK for a styling event using clothes donated to the charity.

The clothes were worn by models who were photographed around the city - and their work can now be seen in the window of Age UK's shop in Hotel Street, Leicester.

Age UK said it hoped the project would encourage a younger generation to value recycled clothes rather than fast fashion.

Student Sophie Tyler, 21, said her project was based on the "darker side of fandom and the price of fame".

She photographed a model around the Highcross shopping centre wearing clothes, an umbrella and unwound cassette tape from the charity shop.

She said: "We shouldn't be shopping fast fashion, we can come to charity shops.

"You can reuse clothing, I'm always in my mum's wardrobe stealing her clothes, because the things she wore back in the day are coming back round."

Ciani Bardel, also 20, said she enjoyed exploring clothes and objects donated to Age UK.

She said she had previously bought fast fashion clothes but the project had opened her mind to the "possibilities" in charity shops.

She added: "I think what people don't realise is that fashion repeats itself.

"So a lot of the time, trends right now, you can literally find it here at Age UK.

"The clothes here have more of a sentimental aspect to it, a history to it."

Chief executive of Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland, Tony Donovan, said he was pleased with the collaboration.

"All of these clothes have a history, the bric-a-brac as well and the books," he said.

"They tell a story and the students have brought it all to life and for that we're really, really grateful."

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