Creativity:
innovator
of the year
josh
Josh first discovered his passion for textiles during his GCSEs. His very first project was designing mountain biking clothing – a success that earned him top marks and a school award. From that point on, he was hooked. Josh began to design his own clothes at home.
When Josh was offered the opportunity to do his DofE, he jumped at the chance. As someone who already loved being outdoors as a keen hiker and mountain biker, he saw DofE as the perfect way to “put everything on paper” and improve his CV.
DofE had a massive impact on Josh, particularly when it came to integrating his love for textiles and the outdoors. Naturally, for his Physical section Josh chose downhill mountain biking, which turned into an opportunity to test out his own clothing designs in real life.
As Josh prepared for his Gold expedition, he realised his walking trousers weren’t quite up to scratch. Rather than settle, he thought, “How hard can it be?” and decided to design his own. He stripped away the features he didn’t like, reshaped them, and added leg vents, extra pockets, and boot hooks – crafting a pair that suited his needs perfectly.
"I think it's important that it's all sustainable because this fabric already exists, but it's not being used, and if it's not being used, it’s often going straight in the bin.”
Josh
After successfully making his new trousers, Josh was able to test them out on his rainy Gold expedition in the Lake District. Josh saw his expedition as the perfect trial run for his clothes, noting what worked and what didn’t. Once he was home, Josh set about making a waterproof coat, which he tested by letting his friends hose him down. He says, “Wearing my coat out after I made it myself felt very rewarding” and his favourite reaction is when someone exclaims, “You made that yourself?!”
Sustainability is important for Josh, who makes all of his clothing out of fabric that already exists, finding a new purpose that prevents it from ending up in landfill. Not only does Josh reuse old clothing, he also incorporates old tents, kites, high vis and even the zips from his old garments.
“Anything that is a fabric I will take apart and reuse – as long as I can put a needle through it!”
from sketch to final creation
Getting started:
Josh begins by sketching out his vision and makes lots of notes.
The design process begins:
Josh cuts out recycled fabric from templates to form each part of the jacket.
Paying attention to detail:
Josh reuses zips from old garments, so nothing goes to waste!
Assembling the fabric:
Josh starts to sew pieces of fabric together to create the jacket.
The finished product:
Josh models his recycled coat and jacket.
“I think that Josh really deserves to be Innovator of the Year. His designs are fantastic, and he's not just thinking about himself - he's thinking about how he could develop products that benefit others too.”
Jen
DofE Leader
As Josh became more confident in his abilities, he knew it was important to make his clothing accessible for people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. He did this by using colourful fabrics that are “easily noticeable and distinguishable”, so they become reference points for someone to follow. Josh says the reaction to his clothes has been overwhelmingly positive and he is proud of the uniqueness of his creations.
Josh was nominated for Innovator of the Year by his DofE Leader, Jen, after showing “an enormous amount of creativity in the product he’s been designing”. Other Leaders have even approached Josh, asking him to create designs especially for them too.
In the future, Josh wants to develop his clothing designs into a brand, with colourful fabric, sustainability and accessibility always at the forefront.
special mention
miles
Miles, a dedicated Sea Cadet volunteer, environmental advocate, and accomplished paddleboard, windsurf, and sailing instructor, has been recognised with a special mention in This is Youth's Innovator of the Year category. Miles is celebrated for his solutions-focused attitude, commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly water quality in the UK, and being “incredibly driven”.
Galvanised by spotting litter during his DofE expedition, Miles organised a half-marathon litter pick along the River Thames, raising funds for the Cornish Wildlife Trust and the Wave Project. He also led an environment workshop at the inaugural Virtual National Cadet Conference, educating 15,000 cadets nationwide on air and water quality and encouraging young people to engage with their local MPs.
Miles partnered with WWF UK and Carbon Footprint Calculator developers to create a bespoke tool for Sea Cadets, which launched on World Environment Day. His ingenuity shone during a paddleboarding expedition on the Thames, where he guided his team safely through challenging conditions by creating a makeshift raft and sail.
Now studying computer science at Lancaster University, Miles continues to champion environmental issues and inspire his peers. His passion, creativity, and dedication are truly inspiring. Miles’ Leader shares, “He’s aware of others and is always looking outward, beyond himself. He’s incredibly community-minded.”
Built with Shorthand
