Fashion workshop – Create your own style

An intensive two-week workshop where teens transform thrift store finds and fabrics into unique creations. Between creative challenges, inspiring outings, and learning sewing skills, participants develop their artistic eye and confidence—culminating in a fashion show celebrating their style and individuality.

More details about the workshop

Our two-week fashion workshop is a hands-on, creative experience designed for teens ready to explore their imagination through clothing. Based in NDG, the program combines guided thrift store outings with practical garment alteration sessions.

Each session begins with a new series of themes and challenges, presented by the workshop mentors to inspire participants to think outside the box and inject fresh energy into their creations. The teens will work to create two to three complete looks, each based on a different concept, using secondhand finds and their own personal touches.

At the end of the workshop, everyone will have the opportunity to walk the runway and present their creations in a fashion show in front of friends and family to celebrate their evolution, style and individuality.

Approximate schedule

Day 1: Introductory session, presentation of the clothing challenges, brainstorming. 

Day 2: First trip to a thrift store. 

Day 3: Introduction to the sewing machine, clothing alterations. 

Day 4: Second trip to a thrift store. 

Day 5: Fittings and alterations. 

Day 6: Third trip to a thrift store. 

Days 7 to 10: To be determined based on the group's progress. Finalizing outfits and alterations. Preparing for the fashion show

This session will follow a similar structure to the first two: participants will receive challenges and create outfits over the two weeks in preparation for a final fashion show to present their work.

However, the challenges will focus more on sewing than on creating looks from secondhand clothing. Outings will be geared more towards fabric shopping than thrift stores. The schedule is still to be determined, but there will likely be only two outings to allow for an extra day dedicated to sewing and a greater focus on fabric retailers.

Things to bring (essential)

Dinner, OPUS card or cash for the bus on outings, water bottle, reusable bag for thrifting days, sunscreen, journal or notebook to jot down ideas