Oaklands College Hosts 10th Anniversary SustFest at Construction Centre

Oaklands College was delighted to host the 10th Anniversary Sustainable St Albans Festival (SustFest) at our Construction Centre this weekend, a milestone celebration of community led action on sustainability.

The festival brought together local organisations, families and sustainability advocates for two days of inspiring activities, creative showcases and insightful discussions. We extend a huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special appreciation to our talented students, whose contributions made the event truly memorable.

The celebrations began on Friday evening with a vibrant sustainable fashion show led by our Level 3 Fashion students. The show featured an incredible collection of outfits designed from repurposed men’s ties, a striking example of creativity, innovation and environmental consciousness.

The project forms part of Sustainable Fashion Week 2025 and included the creation of a bespoke window display for the Marshalswick Hospice Shop. Students worked collaboratively to highlight how preloved materials can be transformed into imaginative, stylish garments while supporting the invaluable work of local community organisations.

These stunning designs were also showcased throughout the SustFest weekend, giving visitors a closer look at the sustainable message behind each piece.

Our Travel, Tourism and Events students also played a key role across the festival, offering guided tours of the Construction Centre. They shared insights into the building’s sustainable features and highlighted how Oaklands continues to invest in environmentally responsible, future focused facilities.

In addition, Vicky Lang from our Travel and Tourism team took part in a panel discussion on sustainable travel. She spoke about the growing importance of low impact travel initiatives and how Oaklands College has integrated sustainable travel into the Travel and Tourism curriculum. Her contribution highlighted our commitment to preparing students for an industry that increasingly prioritises environmental responsibility.

Hosting the 10th Anniversary Sustainable St Albans Festival reflects Oaklands College’s strong commitment to sustainability and community partnership, two key pillars of our Strategic Plan. Seeing our students lead the way through fashion, events and educational engagement demonstrates the positive impact young people can make in shaping a greener, more sustainable future.

We are proud to support this inspiring community event and look forward to continuing our work with local partners to promote innovation, creativity and environmental responsibility.