The Style Studio

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The Style Studio

The Style Studio runs fashion courses for children and young people from the ages of 7 to 19. So if you are interested in fashion, whether it is as hobby or you want to make it your career, this would be the ideal place for you to start as you will have the advantage of working with professionals. You will also be able to study fashion design, merchandising (window dressing),
fashion styling, and printing on textiles.
Samson Soboye the owner of Soboye Soong boutique who is involved in the merchandising course said "Participants leave energised and more aware of possibilities available to them."
The courses are not only fun they let you express yourself freely. For the
older ones they offer careers advice. They also do a satellite service/outreach programme for schools. Lottie, 8 who went on the course said
"I really, really enjoyed my time at The Style Studio, printing t-shirts was the best!"
And Tatum, 11 said
"Being able to do styling on a shoot was wicked!" ( a shoot is a photographic fashion shoot)
Natasha Miller started The Style Studio after working as a fashion journalist. She discovered there was a gap in the market for children to learn about
fashion in a fun and creative way.
I think these courses are ideal as they let you express your individuality. There should be more courses like this one that do other creative subjects as well as courses such as sport, science and so on. The Government should support and encourage these types of courses. They should listen to the pupils themselves to find out why.
"I knew that I've always wanted to work in fashion, I want to have a
shop or be a stylist. The Style Studio has given me the chance to practice window dressing and styling". says Alicia, 14.
While Heena also 14 knows exactly what she wants to do she says
"After doing the fashion fusion course I got the chance to meet Samson who owns a shop called Soboye Soong, this is where some of us did the merchandising/window dressing. I really liked merchandising and have
decided to study it at college. I'm also doing my work experience at Soboye Soong when I'm in year 11."
Charity shops would be a great way for young people to practice the skills that they have learnt in merchandising/window dressing. They could even
re-design and customise some of the second - hand clothes or they could just let them sell a few of their own designs. Most or all of the money made would have to go to charity but it would be a great experience for
all involved.
The Style Studio has worked with the retail store New Look to help discover child star fashion designers. So they can promote a new children's fashion range. Perhaps in the future they will let them help design the new fashion range. To try and find young fashion designers The Style Studio have worked with Nickelodeon TV, ( an American television company) so that they can star in the Bratz Design Academy which is a series on their network channel. They then chose 2 children from The Style Studio and they appeared with the well known fashion designer Ben De Lisi. This is an opportunity for all designers to use their talent in a different way by passing on what they have learnt and being a mentor to the next generation of designers. For as Samson Soboye says
"The participants receive a high level of tuition and support that allows
them to realise their ideas and get a taster of what it can be like to work in the creative industries. It encourages teamwork as well as individual working.
For us facilitators it's always great to give back and instil pride and see them leaving having achieved something and with smiles on their faces".
This is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed. They also do Saturday classes and holiday courses and workshops or what about a Style Studio fashion
party. For more details visit www.stylestudiokids.co.uk

© Children's Web Magazine 2009