Three women from Orkney have graduated with a pioneering clothes-making qualification, paving the way for others to follow.

Briony Avery, Kayleigh Archibald and Frances Marshall completed the SQA-accredited Kindred Clothing Award (Garment Construction) qualification, offered by Dundee charity Front Lounge.

The trio completed the course entirely online, supported locally by Orkney-based fashion designer and social entrepreneur Kirsteen Stewart.

Readers to The Orkney News may remember the story we carried charting their learning journey.

Kindred Clothing Comes to Orkney with Locally Created Designs

Their achievements, along with those of Orkney-based Nymeria Drayak, who graduated this time last year, bring the total number of Kindred Clothing graduates in Scotland to 71. Last year, Nymeria was also recognised as the programme’s most outstanding learner and received the Tailor Trade Award from the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee.

Now qualified, the three seamstresses are preparing to deliver the course to others in Orkney, ensuring skills continue to grow within the community.

Kayleigh and Briony spoke about what the course had meant for them and their future plans.

Briony, a member of the Scottish Women’s Institute, said:

“As well as achieving my own qualification, I now have the chance to deliver the course to others and to keep building that sense of community here in Orkney. At The Learning Link, we’ve already started a beginner’s sewing class, which has proved so popular that we have a waiting list.

“We’re now all set to run the SQA Kindred Clothing course early next year.”

Kayleigh, who has a two-year-old son, added:

“The Kindred Course has been an invaluable experience. It has reinforced my self-belief, introduced me to wonderful people, and opened up conversations about Kindred within the wider community.

“I want to pass on that empowerment to others, cheering them on and helping them through their own Kindred journeys. The course is challenging, and everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but the sense of achievement at the end is worth every hurdle.”

Front Lounge founder Chika Inatimi explained:

“Graduation is always a highlight in the Front Lounge calendar, but it’s extra special when we see learners succeed online from hundreds of miles away.

“It’s inspiring to witness this group not only complete the course but also commit to sharing it with others in their community. That’s exactly what we’ve seen in Dundee: learners gain skills and confidence and then want to pass that on. Every graduate deserves huge praise for their perseverance and achievements.”

For more information and to express an interest in taking part in Kindred Clothing, email hello@frontlounge.org, message Front Lounge via social media or visit www.frontlounge.org.