Mother and Daughter Share Graduation
Fourteen learners, aged 9 to 57, including a mum and daughter, have graduated with a pioneering clothes-making qualification.
The learners, a combination of children from Dundee’s Rosebank Primary School and local mums, have completed the Qualifications Scotland-accredited Kindred Clothing Award (Garment Construction) qualification, offered by Dundee charity Front Lounge.
The sixth-ever Front Lounge graduation brings the total number of graduates to 86. In addition, two Kindred Clothing graduates graduated with the NC in Creative Industries SCQF Level 6 Pilot, the learning progression route for Kindred Clothing graduates.
Amongst the Kindred Clothing graduates were Dundee mum Annemarie Drummond and daughter Gypsy.
Marking the first time the Kindred Clothing course was taught to primary school pupils, Gypsy was one of eight pupils from Rosebank Primary School to complete the course, alongside peers from primaries five, six and seven. Throughout the seven-week programme, the children learned how to draft patterns, sew garments, create a lounge top, a t-shirt dress, and a pair of dungarees.
Just as Gypsy completed her qualification, Annemarie, keen to follow in her daughter’s footsteps, joined a group of local mums to pursue the qualification.
She said, “Gypsy absolutely loved the course and was so proud of what she’d made. When she came home talking all about it, I joked, ‘Do they take adults?’ Thankfully, after speaking to Front Lounge, I discovered they did.
“My gran taught me to sew when I was about Gypsy’s age. We’d stitch onto scraps of fabric together, but sadly she had to stop because of arthritis. I’ve always been creative. I enjoy everything from drawing to crochet, but I’d never really carried on with sewing, so this gave me the perfect opportunity to rediscover it.
“So many courses and qualifications come with a cost, and it can be difficult to justify paying for something extra. Being able to do this for free was incredible, and even more special because it was something Gypsy and I could share together. I’m also so impressed that the school recognised what a fantastic opportunity this would be for Gypsy and her classmates. Not every child leaves school with qualifications, so for her to achieve one at just 10 years old is amazing. It’s given her confidence and shown her that she can stick with something challenging and be recognised for it.
“To me, it feels like I’ve been handed back a skill that had been lost in our family over the years. Now I can pass it on to Gypsy, and hopefully one day she’ll pass it on too. I’ve also been speaking to the charity about what comes next and how I can build on this qualification to explore new opportunities of my own.”
Chika Inatimi, Founder of Front Lounge, said, “This new group of graduates, a blend of mums and children, proves that Kindred Clothing is a truly multi-generational programme, inspiring different generations at the same time. By setting themselves a goal and seeing it through, they leave with far more than a qualification and every single graduate deserves enormous credit for their commitment and perseverance. We know from experience that these achievements often become the first step towards a brighter, more confident future.”
With Front Lounge now in active discussions with other primary schools interested in adopting the course, the Kindred Course is open to all schools and community groups, as well as individuals seeking a fresh focus. For further information, email hello@frontlounge.org or visit www.frontlounge.org
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS
The Kindred Clothing qualification was designed by a group of young mums in 2018 and is delivered by businesses within the Clothes Making Learning Partnership (CMLP). They take learners through the key stages of the garment production process, from setting up and using a sewing machine to creating mood boards, pattern making and garment construction. Learners also gain practical fashion photography skills and techniques to present themselves, their stories and their clothes.
Led by Dundee charity Front Lounge, the Kindred Clothing Award (Garment Construction) qualification was designed by a group of young mums in 2020 and is delivered by businesses within the Clothes Making Learning Partnership (CMLP). They take learners through the key stages of the garment production process, from setting up and using a sewing machine to mood boards, pattern making and garment construction. Learners also gain practical fashion photography skills and techniques to present themselves, their stories and their clothes amongst their fellow learners, tutors and others.
FULL LIST OF GRADUATES:
NC IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SQCF LEVEL 6 PILOT – Oct 2025 – Jul 2026
1. Amy Deans
2. Samantha Hutchison
KINDRED CLOTHING – Mar – May 2026
The first primary school cohort:
1. Amber Grant
2. Brooke Sophie Burns
3. Constance Hurman
4. Eunice Ogunfowukan
5. Gypsy Drummond
6. Jessica Crowe
7. Meekness Ukuesan
8. Rejoice Oyenekan
Jun – Jul 2026
The second adult learners’ cohort, tutored and assessed by Georgia McLaren
1. Annemarie Drummond
2. Hazel Anne-Marie Dryden
3. Jemma Louise Ramsay
4. Lisa Flynn
5.Patricia Stockman
6. Rebecca Louise Connelly