Kent school children inspired by
Zandra Rhodes

Over sixty young people from secondary schools and colleges across Kent, explored their creative potential through a series of dynamic workshops part of the Colourful Heritage project – a project celebrating the vibrant legacy of one of Britain’s most iconic fashion designers, Kent-born Dame Zandra Rhodes.

22 May 2025

Held at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Canterbury, the 16- and 17-year-olds took part in five hands-on creative sessions, including paper dressmaking workshops, sketching, and screen printing. They also got the chance to learn more about Rhodes’ work via the project’s online archive.

Rhodes, who grew up in Medway, Kent, is passionate about improving the creative educational opportunities of underprivileged young people. As part of the workshops, students were given the chance to not only see and handle examples of Rhodes’ work, but also use her as inspiration for their own ideas.  

Rhodes said: “These workshops not only engaged these young people with my fashion heritage but shared my learned knowledge in the place it was originally developed – I’m hoping to inspire future generations of young designers.”

A student at the workshop said: “My nan loves Zandra! She said this project is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The workshops were about more than creativity — they were about access, opportunity, and empowerment. Opening doors, building aspirations, and making creativity feel like a viable future.

Ellen Brown, UCA Project Manager, explained: “By letting students explore Zandra Rhodes’ incredible legacy and try out creative practices for themselves, we showed them that the creative industries aren’t for ‘other people’ but for them. The impact was immediate: excitement, confidence, and a clearer sense of what’s possible.”

A teacher at the workshop, added: “It’s so key to have local icons to show students that you can come from the same place and be something.”

The culmination of the workshops is a free exhibition at Halpern Gallery in Medway, which will be open to the public from Friday, 6 June. Students will display the work they created and showcase sketches they’ve done as part of the ongoing #draweveryday part of the Colourful Heritage project, which anyone is welcome to join.

The exhibition – Bright Futures in Bold Colour, The Zandra Effect – is open Monday through Saturday, 10am-4pm, and runs from Friday 6 June until Tuesday 17 June.

To learn more about the Colourful Heritage project, follow @colourfulheritage on Instagram or visit the Zandra Rhodes digital archive.

The project is a partnership between UCA, The Zandra Rhodes Foundation and is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to promote the importance of cultural heritage.