Bristol University Great British Sewing Bee finalist calls for the end of fast fashion

University of Bristol student and Great British Sewing Bee finalist Pascha Al-Qassab is encouraging others to “make and mend” their own clothes, in a bid to slow down fast fashion.

Pascha was 20 years old when she began filming the 10th series of the hit BBC One show back in September 2023.

Upon her return to the University of Bristol, she is organising sustainable fashion markets in the city’s “thriving” sustainability scene. 

Pascha wishes for more opportunities for young people to learn sewing at school, saying: “We could build that culture of caring for our clothes as an important part of looking after the environment.”

According to research carried out by the British Heart Foundation, which launched The Big Stich campaign in 2017, nearly six in 10 people cannot sew confidently. 

Talking to the BBC, Pascha recognised that this issue needs to be addressed if society wants to crack down on fast fashion.

Fast fashion involves the quick turnover and cheap mass production of fashion trends. 

“People are throwing clothes away earlier than ever before,” she added. “I think it’s a quarter of Brits that don’t know how to sew on a button.”

Ms Al-Qassab says her inspiration for sewing began with the BBC show, but jokes that she “started out of stubbornness.” 

“There was a dress that I really loved the top of, but I wasn’t keen on the company that sold it. So I bought the dress, made a pattern out of newspaper, sent the dress back and remade it with one of my dad’s own shirts.”

The show’s final aired in July 2024, where Pascha was up against finalists Luke and Ailsa, with Luke taking the title.

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Reflecting upon the series, she said, “I’m a big fan of the show and I couldn’t believe I was in the sewing room itself. If you sew or you’re a creative person it’s like Disneyland.”

Following the show, she is using her sewing skills to help fellow students with clothing alterations at university and to make last-minute dresses for nights out.

Her Instagram account, has amassed over 10,000 followers, where she posts her sewing projects and free patterns, showcasing her impressive needlework skills. 

Featured image via the University of Bristol: Pascha sets up a machine at the university’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.