Colchester student's Help for Heroes inspired dress goes viral
Strictly star JJ Chalmers described the dress as 'amazing'
Last updated 13th Jul 2021
A teenager, who lives near Colchester, has created a military-inspired dress which has gone viral on social media.
Pippa Longhurst, aged 16 and from Lamarsh, designed and created the Help for Heroes inspired dress as part of her Cambridge International Fashion and Textiles O Level course.
It went viral after her father, 49 year-old Guy Longhurst, tweeted about it, catching the attention of the charity and Strictly star, JJ Chalmers, who described the dress as 'amazing'.
Pippa drew inspiration for her dress from the 51 soldier sculptures created and installed by steel fabricator, Duncan Pittock, in Mersea and Peldon.
She said:
"I drive past those sculptures all the time and I like to photograph them as they are really powerful images.
"They, and the fact that Colchester has such strong links to the Armed Forces, were the things that really inspired my design.
"I really wanted to give something back to the military and what they do for us.
"So, I researched Help for Heroes and matched their brand colours in the fabric.
"Then I used print outs of the actual statues to create the images at the bottom of the skirt and added some military medals.
"The look is finished off with a poppy on my arm."
Pippa made the dress over 15 weeks at school.
Her O Level brief was to create either a film related or promotional item of clothing.
But, because of the impact of Covid on exams, the dress will not now be taken into consideration for her final O Level marks.
However, Pippa has been able to show off her dress on the catwalk at the St Mary’s bi-annual catwalk in front of a smaller than usual audience due to the pandemic.
She added:
"It was fun to take part in the fashion show.
"With that and the attention on social media that I just wasn’t expecting, it’s given me a really big boost.
"I would definitely like to do something with the dress now and am talking to Help for Heroes about how we might be able to use it to help build awareness of the charity."
Hilary Vipond, Principal of St Mary’s Colchester said:
"We are extremely proud of how hard Pippa has worked as she explored and developed her creative idea for her CiE Fashion and Textiles O Level, including the subtle military links and demonstrating her technical ability to produce such a beautiful garment.
"It is wonderful that Pippa chose to promote the work that Help for Heroes does for wounded veterans and their families, being a military town, the Army are very important to Colchester and its communities."
Pippa hopes to study textiles and photography for art A level in September and has an eye on a creative career after school.
Tanya Ingleton, Head of Trading at Help for Heroes and a keen sewer herself, added:
"Wow, Pippa’s dress is amazing and her design and sewing skills are self-evident.
"However, what is also wonderful is to see a young person taking such interest and inspiration from veterans who have sacrificed so much for their country.
"She really is a sewing superstar."