Supermodel enlists fashion students for TV show

International supermodel Jodie Kidd visited the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at Rochester to film her latest television project where she gave fashion students a unique opportunity to make an outfit for her.

The catwalk queen was in Kent to film a new series for Britain’s leading factual channel Yesterday, called Ration Book Britain, which delves into the spirit of 1940s rationing and how it affected all areas of British life during the Second World War.

As part of the programme, which will be broadcast at 9pm on Tuesday 14 December, Jodie explored the wartime ‘make do and mend’ ethos by setting students the task of making dresses and jackets for her from the ration rules of the day.

The lucky group of BA (Hons) Fashion Design students made a reversible jacket and two dresses for the TV presenter using a limited amount of material, buttons and even thread.

Jodie Kidd said: “I thought the students did an awesome job – the outfits were amazing and I have actually asked if I can keep one of the jackets.

“We only gave the students a few hours to make the garments from scratch, under strict rationing rules too, so they did fantastically well and managed to add a modern twist to the style of the day.”

Second-year BA (Hons) Fashion Design student, Olivia Salmon, said: ”I’ve never had to make anything this quickly before, or for someone as famous as Jodie Kidd, so the pressure was on but it’s been a great opportunity for us.”

Student, Hannah Chivers, said: “It’s amazing to be a part of a TV programme like this but I must admit I felt the pressure when the cameras were on me as I didn’t want to make a mistake - after a while though, I was too busy to worry about the cameras.”

Tola Mahiki: “I’m really impressed that UCA Rochester was picked out of all of fashion courses in the country - it makes me even more proud to study here.”

International student, Xiaoting Wen, said: “I never thought I would ever make something for the supermodel Jodie Kidd let alone on British TV – I phoned my family in China straight after I found out I was doing this and they were very excited too.”

BA (Hons) Fashion Design course leader, Donna Ives, said: “I am so proud of the students. They have made high-quality garments under 1940s ration constraints, and under the glare of a TV lens, in a day – I’m sure it will give them all a great confidence boost to know that they can do it.”

Claire Ratinon, Assistant producer at Optomen who produced the series, said: “Filming at UCA Rochester went incredibly well – the University was really accommodating, the students were great and really threw themselves into the project – we couldn’t have asked for any more.”

Ration Book Britain is a new four part series, which aims to show the resilience and ingenuity, which the nation displayed in all walks of life at a time of hardship.

In addition to the episode presented by Jodie Kidd, former Olympic tennis player and TV presenter Andrew Castle will look at how sport played an essential role in the war effort, while TV chef Valentine Warner will examine how troops were fed on the Front Line and how families staged a frugal yet festive Christmas.

The series is new and exclusive to Yesterday, weeknights at 9pm from Monday 13 December (Sky 537, Virgin 203, Freeview 12)