If you’re after a hands-on, fashion-focused activity for your students that explores collage, costume design, and visual storytelling, then this Art Club project is for you! Using a mix of photography, sketching, and collage, students reimagine fashion by creating bold, quirky designs using layered materials and textures.
Image Credit: Zart Art.
🎒 What You’ll Need
- Photocopied body base templates (or fashion photography cut-outs)
- Pencils and erasers
- Fabric scraps, textured paper, magazines
- Glue sticks or tacky glue
- Scissors
📸 [Insert photo of materials laid out]
✏️ Step 1: Pick a Body Base
Start by choosing a body base image. This will act as the foundation for your fashion collage. Students can select stylised poses or create their own.
💭 Step 2: Get Inspired
Before jumping into designing, spend time exploring fashion imagery for ideas:
- Vintage fashion
- Futuristic styles
- Avant-garde costumes
- Natural textures and pattern inspiration (florals, animals, architecture)
✍️ Step 3: Sketch the Outfit
Using a pencil, lightly sketch costume ideas directly onto the photocopied photo or figure template.
Encourage students to explore:
- Shape and silhouette
- Accessories and headwear
- Movement and layering
Image Credit: Zart Art
🎨 Step 4: Collage the Look
Now for the fun part! Start cutting and layering materials to bring your design to life. Position each piece before gluing to experiment with:
- Overlapping and contrast
- Fabric folds and flow
- Texture and colour balance
Once happy with the layout, glue everything into place.
Image Credit: Zart Ar
🌟 Bonus Tip for Teachers
You can even host a mini runway show at the end of the term where students present their fashion collages and describe their creative choices. It’s a great confidence booster and celebration of creativity!
Cultivating Creativity: Best Practices for the Art Classroom 