Amschela Creative Futures Team backstage with Models pre runway show for Fashion Britain 2026
Fashion should open its doors wider.
On 26 September, Amschela staged Chapter One, our first runway show as part of Fashion Britain Bristol, during London Fashion Week.
On the night, we said this: “Tonight is about more than fashion. It is about Bristol. Creativity. Opportunity. And what can happen when people are given the space to create.”
Behind the runway, the show created 40 creative roles across fashion, film, photography, modelling, emerging design and live music. Issue 02 is about the young people who filled them.
Why it matters
Creative Futures is our social mobility programme. For Chapter One, fifteen young people joined the team across four areas: Runway and Model, Styling and Wardrobe, Guest Experience, and Event Production and Content. They learned on the job, alongside people who work in the industry every day.
Five of those places came through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer.
What they took from it
Ten of the fifteen shared their feedback with us. Every one of them rated their confidence in a professional creative setting, and their likelihood of recommending Creative Futures, at 4 or 5 out of 5.
All of them said they developed teamwork and problem solving. Nine in ten built their organisation and learned to work under pressure. Eight in ten said it helped them understand the creative roles open to them.
And every one of them plans to use the experience on their CV and in job applications.
In their own words
“I have a full insight into the fashion and modelling industry and my experience at fashion week has let me have that.” Yahaddy Jeng, Styling and Backstage, Youth Guarantee
“I had not led model and runway before, only makeup, so this expanded my skills and built my confidence in an intense fashion environment.” Cal Tanner, Runway and Model Team Lead
“It really boosted my confidence when working in a team and with models. Styling the models before they went on the runway was probably one of my highlights.” Layla Barker Hall, Model Coordination and Event Production
“I have gained some really strong employability attributes that will help me as I start to apply for jobs in the industry. Getting to work with people who are actively in the industry has helped me make some great connections.” Ellie Raybould, Content Creation
“I gained experience taking photographs behind the scenes of a fashion show. It has given me confidence to get involved in more opportunities like this.” Amber Gould, Content and Sustainability
“I had such a great time and met so many lovely people. I gained new friends and connections and insight to what it will be like working in fashion.” Taylor Hunt, Guest Experience and Front of House
Made possible by
Boomsatsuma (Bristol Film School, and Photography and Print), Gingersnap Models, UWE Bristol Fashion Textiles, Saffron Records, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, DOTTRR, Carbon Law Partners, Harbour House and Fashion Britain Bristol.
Every story starts somewhere. This one is only beginning.
Keri Founder, Amschela
