EBB has highlighted the power of paper with a competition that tasked students with creating complex designs using only paper materials
Paper and board supplier, Elliott Baxter & Company (EBB), has collaborated with Art and Design students from Farnborough College of Technology (FCOT) on a project showcasing the versatility of paper materials, as part of celebrations for Love Paper Week.
Love Paper Week, which runs this week from February 2nd to 6th, is a global initiative aiming to collectively promote paper and its sustainability credentials to both consumers and businesses. The initiative is a collaboration of the entire paper, print, and packaging value chain.
As part of Love Paper Week celebrations, EBB challenged students to treat paper as “a material in its own right” – asking them to fold it, cut it, layer it, and transform it through light, texture, and movement into interesting and functional designs.
To support the project, EBB supplied a pallet of white and coloured paper and card stock, envelopes, and self-adhesive materials.
EBB labelled the resulting submissions as showcasing “exceptional originality, craftsmanship, and conceptual thinking.”
The winning entry was a ‘paper dress’ by first-year Fashion and Textiles student, Ava Harrison. The dress includes thicker Buckram embossed Lessebo Design Smooth White crafted into a corset, with each section seamed and incorporating a laced back fastening.
Printed textures, layered torn papers, and crumpled sheets in cream, white, and black were used to construct the skirt.
The dress will be exhibited on EBB’s stand at The Print Show in September, with Harrison invited to attend and see her work showcased. She was also awarded £100 in Hobbycraft vouchers to support her ongoing studies.
Clare Johnson, marketing manager for EBB, says: “I was really excited to see all of the outcomes from the student’s work, but Ava’s dress blew me away.
“The scale and ambition of the piece really impressed me. Talking to Ava, I was impressed with her enthusiasm and clear love for design, art, and fashion and I wish her all the best in her studies. I can’t wait to invite her to The Print Show to see her work on display.
Johnson adds: “Thanks also to FCOT tutor Lizzie Styles for driving the project and for her enthusiasm, support, and guidance in helping the students explore paper as a creative material and bring their ideas to life.”
Other highlighted projects included a papier-mâché fox from El Webb, which used paper cutting and paint to create texture and form, and a paper sculpture from NaNa Suwanchairob, which incorporated both origami flowers and architectural elements.
Comment on the project, EBB adds: “We would like to thank all the students who took part and embraced the challenge with such enthusiasm. Their work perfectly embodies the spirit of Love Paper Week and celebrates paper as a creative, sustainable, and endlessly versatile material that continues to inspire new generations of designers and artists.”
