Inverness seamstress Órla Ní Eadhra impresses judges with her sustainable fashion designs as she heads into the next stage of the competition
This week on The Great British Sewing Bee, Inverness’s own seamstress, Órla Ní Eadhra, continued to impress the judges with her creativity and skill - this time in a ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ themed week.
As the competition entered its 5th week, the challenges pushed contestants to embrace sustainability in innovative ways.
In the Pattern Challenge, contestants were asked to create a zero-waste workwear jacket. Órla rose to the occasion, producing a striking denim jacket with pink contrast stitching.
Judges praised her bold colour choice, noting that contrasting thread makes any errors more visible - but Órla’s precision and attention to detail ensured a flawless finish. Judge Patrick Grant called it a “terrific job,” earning her second place on the leader board.
Next came the Transformation Challenge, where competitors faced an unusual twist: repurposing discarded tents and camping gear rescued from UK festivals into wearable outfits.
Within 90 minutes, Órla created a striking green, strappy two-piece set, cleverly incorporating elements of the original tent, including an elastic strap back detail. Her fashionable festival-wear earned her 4th place, with Dan taking the top spot.
Finally, in the Made to Measure Challenge, inspired by the ‘Make Do and Mend’ campaign, contestants transformed garments from family and friends into fresh, wearable outfits - embracing the essence of sustainability. Órla created a festive Christmas ceilidh dress - a nod to her Scottish roots.
She repurposed a dress inherited from her late grandmother and a green velvet piece her mother bought from a charity shop to create a festive, eye-catching outfit, fit for a festive family ceilidh. Dan claimed the coveted Garment of the Week title.
After last week’s Korea Week, fans are already looking forward to next week’s Kids Week, where Órla and her fellow contestants will face the challenge of creating outfits for younger wearers.