A New Partnership Rooted in Heritage
Sustainable fashion in Exeter is in good hands. Three Exeter College students, Sophie, Claudia and Jonny, recently worked with Sharif Mirzad to design an outfit based on sustainability that represents our business.
It started earlier this year, when Exeter College and Princesshay, where our studio sits on Roman Walk, got talking about Princesshay’s September fashion show. The college suggested the students tie their work in with the brands in the centre, and Sophie, Claudia and Jonny chose us. It suited us well. Our upcycling work is busier than ever with younger clients, students especially, who would rather find something wonderful in a vintage shop and have it made right than buy new.
We talked through how the project would work, shared fabric and inspiration, and then left the creative decisions to them. The three of them agreed it was a perfect opportunity to showcase the design, the thinking behind it and the collaboration itself, and we agreed. We loved every minute, so we are delighted to share it here.
What did the Exeter College students design?
Sophie, Claudia and Jonny designed a single outfit that celebrates traditional tailoring and shows how old materials can be turned into something creative and wearable. It draws on what they saw at Sharif Mirzad Tailoring in Exeter: our bespoke suits, our colourful linings and the traditional techniques we use every day.
They did not settle on one idea straight away. Throughout the process they experimented with different materials, then combined their individual ideas to create one final outfit.
How does the design show the tailoring process?
The outfit tells the story of a suit in stages. Measuring tapes, pattern pieces, ties and tailored suits all feature in the design, each one standing for a different part of the tailoring process.
It is a lovely thing to see your own craft read back to you by people who are just starting out. At our Exeter studio, the measuring is the point where a suit stops being an idea and starts being yours, so it was a joy to see it feature.
Why does upcycling matter in sustainable fashion?
Upcycling means giving existing fabric or garments a new purpose instead of buying new, and it is the part of this project closest to our hearts. The students took inspiration from our sustainable approach to fashion by upcycling fabrics and reusing materials.
It is the same conversation we have with clients every week. A well tailored suit can be restyled many times over the years, and we recently restyled a suit that was 50 years old. Before your next shopping trip, it is always worth looking at what is already hanging in your wardrobe.
Sharif Mirzad said of the project:
“It was wonderful to work with Sophie, Claudia and Jonny. They brought fresh ideas and real respect for traditional tailoring, and they found a clever way to give old materials a second life. Helping students learn, and seeing young people care about sustainability in fashion, means a great deal to me. Our trade only carries on if we share what we know.”
Sharif Mirzad, Sharif Mirzad Tailoring
Thank you to Sophie, Claudia and Jonny for choosing us as their inspiration. We hope you enjoy seeing the design as much as we did.
