The women of Cooltan Arts, a mental health arts project based in Southwark South London, unveiled their collection of batik kimono designs on the catwalk during Alternative Arts Fashion Week.

“Fantastic!’ is how Lesley Dewhurst reports feeling after her modelling debut, wearing her own design: “I was doing a twirl at the end of the platform and I thought ‘How high is this? What if I fall off?’ I taught art for 20 years, but then life pressures meant I was full of anxiety, trapped at home.” Now, says Lesley, involvement with Cooltan means getting out and getting creative and being stimulated.

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