Students in the Year 11 textiles groups were given a choice of four themes to work on over the summer holidays. Abbie G chose ‘transformations’ and spent the whole summer creating her project relating to the theme, thinking about the transformation of war and conflict as a cycle of destruction and re-growth.

She made two dresses in one – and to change sides you have to turn the dress inside out. One side is light and cheerful, in spring-like colours with embellishments of spring flowers and butterflies with crochet accessories. The other side is dark and gothic, with a black and ragged layer which is beautifully embroidered and embellished with tiny beaded insects and accompanied by a skeletal, spider’s web shawl.

Plus the dress length also changes: the spring dress is short, while the gothic dress is long. The Art Department recommended Abbie for a Head’s Commendation and said: “It’s a fabulous concept as well as an incredibly detailed and accomplished dress which is a masterpiece of invention, embellishment and textile engineering.”