On Friday, 28 November, the AK Bell Library was transformed into something entirely new: a vibrant, energetic runway for A Century of Youth, a fashion show created and performed by the Culture Perth & Kinross Youth Collective. The evening marked the culmination of nearly a year of research, design, upcycling and learning about the circular economy, and, importantly, the closing chapter of our three-year Living Communities Heritage Pathways project, funded by the Gannochy Trust. Their support has been central to everything the Collective has achieved, and we are deeply grateful for it.

For context, the circular economy is a way of reducing waste by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. Rather than clothing being bought, worn briefly and discarded, items are repaired, reused, reworked or transformed, slowing the demand for new resources and reducing environmental impact. It’s a simple but powerful idea, and it sat at the heart of the Collective’s design process throughout the year.

Over the past twelve months, the Youth Collective explored 100 years of youth subcultures, political expression and social change through clothing. Using the library, museum and archive collections as creative starting points, they designed garments that re-imagined decades of youth style in fresh and contemporary ways. Each outfit reflected both the historical moment in time and the Youth Collective’s own perspectives on identity, community and the world they are shaping for themselves.

Sustainability was woven throughout the project. On the evening of the show, Rachael Esdale from Social Flock and Amulree Welch from Remake in Perth each gave thoughtful presentations to the audience, highlighting the environmental impact of fast fashion and the role individuals and communities can play in making more conscious clothing choices. Their insights helped set the tone for the event, grounding the creativity of the show within real-world concerns and inspiring many audience members to reflect on their own habits.

For the Youth Collective, the experience was significant. Caleigh reflected: “It was incredibly rewarding to see everyone’s work come together… the sustainability talks really made me rethink how much effort I put into it in my day-to-day life.” Audience members felt the impact too, describing the event as both entertaining and thought-provoking, with one noting how the designs “fitted the decades perfectly” and prompted them to consider their own clothing choices more actively.

The library itself emerged as an unexpectedly powerful creative space. With Lend & Mend serving as a backstage workshop and the ground floor transformed into a runway, many participants spoke about how their sense of the library had shifted. What began as a familiar public building became a space for making, performance and experimentation, reflecting the Collective’s ethos of reimagining what heritage spaces can be when young people lead the way.

As this phase of the Gannochy-funded project comes to a close, the fashion show stands as a celebration of everything the Youth Collective has achieved over the last three years: new skills, new confidence, and new ways of working collaboratively. It represents the best of co-production, creative, thoughtful and deeply rooted in the lived experiences and ideas of young people across Perth & Kinross.

To everyone who supported, stitched, mentored, presented, modelled, filmed or simply cheered from the audience: thank you. And to the Gannochy Trust, whose ongoing support made this work possible, we extend our heartfelt appreciation.

The runway may be packed away, but the legacy of this project continues. The ideas, connections and skills developed here will shape whatever the Youth Collective create next, and we can’t wait to see where they take us.

All photos and video by Bart Masiukiewicz.