Daniel is originally from the village of Fillongley in Warwickshire and studied in Coventry. His exhibition “Be Yourself, Everyone Eles is Already Taken” came to The Herbert Gallery in Coventry in Spring 2022 after touring venues across the Europe and USA. Escape Arts, along with a small number of other community groups, were invited to attend workshops with Daniel, resulting in the amazing outfits currently on display in the windows on High Street at the former Debenhams. All made from recycled materials.

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As well as creating two of the outfits on display, Escape Arts also launched “Celebration!” where groups created their own amazing outfits using scrap materials and unwanted fabrics. The outfits were then modelled on our very own catwalk at our Escaporium Ball in November. But anyone can have a go at creating their own amazing outfit using spare materials and fabrics.

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You will need:

• Waste cardboard and paper – used delivery boxes, empty cereal boxes etc
• Unwanted fabrics – scarves, curtains, tablecloths, tea towels, old shirts etc
• Unwanted costume jewellery, Christmas decorations, buttons
• Scissors
• Safety pins
• Glue

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Instructions:

1. Start your outfit with by creating layers of fabrics over a base. An old, oversized shirt or t-shirt is ideal as the base.
2. Pin layers using safety pins – no need to sew. Pin fabrics so that they are ruffled or billowing and don’t be afraid to cut holes or leave frayed edges. They can look great. It is easier to create the outfit on a model – if you don’t have a dressmaker’s dummy or a mannequin, use a large soft toy or even live model but take care when you are using pins.

1. Add structure and accessories using decorated scrap cardboard or any other interesting waste items. You can glue beads, buttons and decorations on and create impressive statement pieces. Go big and be bold. You can even decorate old sunglasses or spectacles – add some bling and glamor. Using a hot glue gun is best for this, but if you don’t have one, you can use PVA glue as long as you keep the item flat until it is completely dry.

1. Head gear is a must, so use stiff cardboard or suitable sized box which can fit on your head as a base. And add as much decoration as you want, but don’t make it too heavy or uncomfortable to wear.

1. When your outfit is finished, show if off with a catwalk or invite guests to wear their homemade outfits at a fabulous party and present a prize for the most outrageous gear.