On the eve of the centenary celebrations of the Waldorf movement, one of South Devon Steiner College’s pioneering graduates walks the catwalk of an award-winning design-duo at London Fashion Week.
Francesca Drewell (19) joined eco-fabric designers, Vin and Omi, as an intern for a week as part of her Art Foundation Course at Oxford Brookes, and was quickly asked to join the models to showcase their Nettle collection, in collaboration with Prince Charles.
Those who know her would fondly describe her as down-to-earth and with a passion for back-stage theatre and costume design. They would also mention that, given half a chance, she would be barefoot and baking cakes - hardly the type to mingle with high-brow celebs and wearing high fashion.
So, when the opportunity came to join the models in presenting the revolutionary eco-fabric made by Vin and Omi from High Grove nettles (yes, nettles from Prince Charle’s Estate), she shocked herself by agreeing.
As part of our ‘Focus on Waldorf 100’, Francesca answered two questions that’s we have been asking of parents (check out our Facebook Page to see the interviews). Waldorf 100 will be celebrated by Waldorf schools around the world tomorrow, 19 September.
Q: What has Waldorf Steiner education meant to you?
A: I don’t really have any experience of any other types of schooling system because I started at Steiner when I was two years old in a Steiner playgroup in South Africa. However, now that I’m out of the system, I can sense that my outlook on education and world is quite different from other students in my current course in Oxford. I feel I have a broader perspective and more commitment than a lot of other students I have come across - probably brought about things like our extensive school trips, and maybe our more independent learning, and broader curriculum.
Q : What is the one thing that Waldorf Steiner education has given you?
Creativity. This helps because it has given me adaptability and confidence to try as many things as I can. As one of the interns on the collection, I was able to do a wider range of tasks, obviously with things like sewing and knitting because we learn these things at Steiner, but I was also more committed to working and finishing. I think this comes from the structure of lessons at Steiner, starting in class one where we do Main Lessons (blocks of a subject) where you are able to explore topics in-depth. This could be part of it.
Francesca Drewell (19) joined eco-fabric designers, Vin and Omi, as an intern for a week as part of her Art Foundation Course at Oxford Brookes, and was quickly asked to join the models to showcase their Nettle collection, in collaboration with Prince Charles.
Those who know her would fondly describe her as down-to-earth and with a passion for back-stage theatre and costume design. They would also mention that, given half a chance, she would be barefoot and baking cakes - hardly the type to mingle with high-brow celebs and wearing high fashion.
So, when the opportunity came to join the models in presenting the revolutionary eco-fabric made by Vin and Omi from High Grove nettles (yes, nettles from Prince Charle’s Estate), she shocked herself by agreeing.
As part of our ‘Focus on Waldorf 100’, Francesca answered two questions that’s we have been asking of parents (check out our Facebook Page to see the interviews). Waldorf 100 will be celebrated by Waldorf schools around the world tomorrow, 19 September.
Q: What has Waldorf Steiner education meant to you?
A: I don’t really have any experience of any other types of schooling system because I started at Steiner when I was two years old in a Steiner playgroup in South Africa. However, now that I’m out of the system, I can sense that my outlook on education and world is quite different from other students in my current course in Oxford. I feel I have a broader perspective and more commitment than a lot of other students I have come across - probably brought about things like our extensive school trips, and maybe our more independent learning, and broader curriculum.
Q : What is the one thing that Waldorf Steiner education has given you?
Creativity. This helps because it has given me adaptability and confidence to try as many things as I can. As one of the interns on the collection, I was able to do a wider range of tasks, obviously with things like sewing and knitting because we learn these things at Steiner, but I was also more committed to working and finishing. I think this comes from the structure of lessons at Steiner, starting in class one where we do Main Lessons (blocks of a subject) where you are able to explore topics in-depth. This could be part of it.
