As part of its community engagement initiatives and Love Paper Week, EBB has proudly collaborated with Art & Design students from Farnborough College of Technology (FCOT) on a creative project celebrating paper as far more than an everyday resource.

Often overlooked as something mundane, paper is one of the oldest and most universal artistic mediums. 
Historically rare and expensive, available only to the wealthy, it is now one of the most accessible materials for creativity, from ancient calligraphy and origami to architectural models and the first sketches of digital designs. Paper has always been there, quietly enabling imagination.

EBB challenged students to go further than using paper as a surface. Instead, they were encouraged to treat it as a material in its own right, to fold it, cut it, layer it, and transform it through light, texture and movement. With creativity often thriving under limitations, students were given one primary material but infinite ways to shape it.

To support the project, EBB supplied a pallet of white and coloured paper and card stock, envelopes and self-adhesive materials. The resulting submissions showcased exceptional originality, craftsmanship and conceptual thinking.



The winning entry was Ava Harrison’s striking Paper Dress, a visually powerful piece that demonstrates both technical skill and artistic vision. Ava used thicker Buckram embossed Lessebo Design Smooth White for the corset, carefully seaming each section and incorporating a clever laced back fastening. Printed textures, layered torn papers and crumpled sheets in cream, white and black were used to construct the skirt, creating movement, depth and drama. The muted colour palette brings cohesion and maximum visual impact to the piece.



The dress will be exhibited on EBB’s stand at The Print Show in September, with Ava invited to attend and see her work showcased.

Ava is currently in her first year of a BTEC Fashion & Textiles course at Farnborough College of Technology and aspires to continue her studies at one of the UK’s leading fashion universities. In recognition of her ambition, enthusiasm and dedication, Ava was awarded £100 in Hobbycraft vouchers to support her ongoing studies.

Clare Johnson, EBB Marketing Manager commented “I was really excited to see all of the outcomes from the student’s work, but Ava’s dress blew me away. The scale and ambition of the piece really impressed me. 



Talking to Ava, I was impressed with her enthusiasm and clear love for design, art and fashion and I wish her all the best in her studies. I can’t wait to invite her to The Print Show to see her work on display. Thanks also to FCOT tutor Lizzie Styles for driving the project and for her enthusiasm, support and guidance in helping the students explore paper as a creative material and bring their ideas to life.”

The project also highlighted several outstanding pieces, including El Webb’s papier mâché fox, which used paper cutting and paint to create rich texture and form, and NaNa Suwanchairob’s paper sculpture, incorporating origami flowers and architectural elements to explore light, shadow and three dimensional form.






EBB would like to thank all the students who took part and embraced the challenge with such enthusiasm. Their work perfectly embodies the spirit of Love Paper Week celebrating paper as a creative, sustainable and endlessly versatile material that continues to inspire new generations of designers and artists.

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