18-year old Michael Archibald from Glasgow has been unveiled as the first designer, as part of an exciting new lifestyle brand from the John Lewis partnership.
The Who Cares? Scotland member has designed a tote bag which will go on sale across John Lewis and Waitrose stores. He applied for the opportunity, which was available to our members, earlier in the summer.
The John Lewis Partnership launched the bag in October on the first year anniversary of its Building Happier Futures initiative. Ahead of Care Experienced Week the event brought together the many individuals and organisations key in the successes of the last year, to launch the first report on the programme – highlighting what it has achieved, where there have been learnings and what it hopes to do in the future
Michael joined John Lewis Chairman Dame Sharon White, on stage to show off the unique new design, which he had worked on with the John Lewis in-house design team and creative partners Saatchi & Saatchi.
Michael Archibald, Who Cares? Scotland member and the first collaborator, said:
“Creative industries are such a competitive field and being given the chance to work with such big companies makes me feel like I’m able to go places.
“I want more Care Experienced people to feel this way. I’m so excited by the potential of Building Happier Futures to give more people like me a platform to be creative and raise more awareness at the same time.
“The stars on the bag represent the brilliance of Care Experienced people, and the surrounding clouds depict the love, care and respect these individuals need.”
Louise Hunter, Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland, said:
“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at the John Lewis Partnership, for all their incredible work in the first year of the Building Happier Futures programme.
“All children and young people need the same things to thrive. They need love, support and to feel as though they belong. This is especially important for our Care Experienced children, who may not be able to take these things for granted. Thanks to the support of the partnership, we’ve been able provide opportunities for fun and friendship, for more than 1,500 Care Experienced participants, at more than 140 different events and activities in the last 12 months, from days out to the seaside, to trips to soft play, trampoline parks, the circus and more.
“These opportunities are about much more than having fun – they help those we support to build supportive connections and relationships with other Care Experienced people, and ultimately to develop a strong sense of belonging in their community. This is the impact that Building Happier Futures is having for those we support
This is a collaboration between artistic Care Experienced young people and the John Lewis Partnership fashion teams to design stylish and beautiful products, with aspirations for this to be a full range beyond the first tote bag.
Made from 13 recycled bottles, the ‘shopper’ bag is expected to be in Waitrose and John Lewis stores from 11 December. Profits from each £12 bag sold will go to the Building Happier Futures fund, helping to achieve the Partnership’s target of £1.1m for 2023.
Are you Care Experienced? Would you like to hear more about opportunities like this? Then sign up as a Who Cares? Scotland member here.
