Student showing a white draped design on a dress stand and spreading the fabric to explore its shape.

From fabric to form

Students explore the relationship between two and three dimensions: draping, recording, measuring and making. They transform flat fabric into an original, wearable genderless, one-size garment without textile waste, documenting ideas, form and construction as they develop it.

Workshop at a glance

  • One day, many disciplines

    For BA and MA courses across fashion, textiles, print, knitwear, sculpture and more.

  • Individual ideas, shared learning

    Develop an original design through independent initiative, experimentation and collaborative working.

  • From cloth to garment

    Explore creative draping and pattern cutting to make a wearable design with 0% fabric waste.

  • Your own paper pattern

    Record precise measurements and construction details to create a paper pattern for your individual design.

  • Document the process

    Develop sketches and photograph ideas, progress and finished work for reflection, portfolios and Instagram.

  • Share work beyond the studio

    An opportunity for students to submit their work to SPOON Magazine for a chance to be featured.
Student showing a white zero waste draped design on a dress stand and draping the fabric to explore its shape.

Suitable across creative disciplines

Designed for students from the first undergraduate year through MA, the workshop is tailored to course level and objectives. It can support fashion design, textiles, knitwear, creative pattern cutting, print, styling, digital fashion, sculpture, communications and product design. Designers share their sustainable practice and offer practical guidance throughout.

What students will develop

  • Zero-waste draping and creative pattern cutting
  • Exploring shape, structure, silhouette, function and wearability
  • Documenting ideas through sketches, photographs and fashion illustration
  • Moving from flat fabric to 3D garments and back to paper patterns
  • Taking measurements and applying construction methods to develop an individual paper pattern
  • Sewing a full-scale wearable toile
  • Reflecting on sustainable decisions and contextualising their practice
  • Students working at sewing machines and a student measuring white fabric draped on a dress stand.
  • Final zero waste student designs displayed around a university stairwell, with students watching a presentation beside the garments.

For BA and MA students

Suitable from the first undergraduate year through MA, the workshop is adapted to students’ experience, creative discipline and course objectives. It supports fashion design, textiles, knitwear, creative pattern cutting, print, styling, digital fashion, sculpture, art & design, communications and product design. At MA level, students can work in pairs on multiple colourways, colour blocking and additional construction seams to explore shape, silhouette and pattern development. They make considered visual and structural decisions and record measurements and the making process to create a reproducible paper pattern.

Students working together with coloured fabric, alongside purple, burgundy and white colour-blocked draped designs.

An MA-level variation

MA students can work in pairs on multiple colourways, colour blocking and additional construction seams to explore shape, silhouette and pattern development. They make considered visual and structural decisions, while recording measurements and the making process to form a reproducible paper pattern.

Workshop delivery

For eight years, Matthew Cunnington and John Sanderson have delivered workshops at universities internationally, including HEAD–Genève, Loughborough University, The Glasgow School of Art, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University, Leeds Arts University, Nottingham Trent University, Leeds Beckett University and University of Chester.

Student work has been featured by SPOON Magazine and shared through its website and social channels, helping students build portfolios and connections. Loughborough Creative Arts supported a recent workshop by sharing student creativity on Instagram.

Read the SPOON feature

Student work and press

  • White zero-waste draped garment created at Nottingham Trent University, shown on a hanger and worn by a student.

    Student work

  • Student at The Glasgow School of Art wearing an asymmetric white draped garment, shown alongside the design on a dress stand.

    Student work

  • No Wasted Jam zero-waste draping workshop featured by SPOON Magazine, showing hands draping white fabric and a line-up of student designs.

    SPOON Magazine

The designers

Established in 2012 by Matthew Cunnington and John Sanderson, Cunnington & Sanderson is a multi-award-winning label combining expressive draping, innovative construction and sustainable design. The designers have shown collections at London, Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks, with international wholesale, showrooms and exhibitions. They proudly share knowledge and experience with the next generation, championing inventive, resourceful ways of making.

Bring a fresh perspective on zero-waste design to your students.

For an enquiry, please include your university, course, student level, group size and preferred dates.

Enquire about the workshop

Enquire about the workshop

Discover more student work, workshop images and videos on our dedicated No Wasted Jam Instagram page.

Visit No Wasted Jam on Instagram