The window display created at Middlesbrough store Psyche puts litter to artistic use, with Christmas trees created using plastic bottles, mannequins with heads made from recycled materials and a backdrop which aims to highlight the importance of recycling.
Psyche staff worked with fashion and product design students from the University’s MIMA School of Art & Design over the past six months, collecting rubbish and waste for this year’s window display. Customers also contributed by bringing in recyclable waste from their homes.
Lynne Hugill, fashion and textiles course leader, said: 'The Psyche Christmas window project has been a great collaboration between our students, Psyche founder Steve Cochrane and the Psyche team.
It has been very exciting seeing their ideas develop throughout the project, which has addressed the real life issue of the problems of waste in our society
'The design students have demonstrated tremendous teamwork throughout and have supported each other to get the scheme delivered on time. It has been very exciting seeing their ideas develop throughout the project, which has addressed the real life issue of the problems of waste in our society.
'The students have really embraced the opportunity to have so much creative freedom with full support from Steve Cochrane, the Teesside University tutors and workshop technicians.'
Psyche has substituted plastic bags in store with recycled cardboard and paper bags. Following the end of the festive display, with spans seven windows, 130 metres of backdrop will be recycled to create tote bags and wrapping paper for Psyche customers.