Brighton MET student impresses in Royal Ballet and Opera House Design Challenge  

Scarlet Spicer-Hartgroves, a Fashion and Business student at Brighton MET, has recently wowed judges in the Royal Ballet and Opera House Design Challenge.

The challenge is a skills-based, national design competition designed to allow students to work with a live brief based on a Royal Ballet and Opera production.

It is a project that all students on the course that take part in every year, and is designed to enhance students’ skills, give students experience with live briefs, and improve their access to design jobs within the artistic industries.

Scarlet’s highly commended dress focuses on the Elizabethan period and was designed to be danced in, with a corset and detachable sleeves, she said:

“I was in class when I found out, I was busy sewing, and I didn’t realise I had won at first, Natasha was trying to get my attention, and I called my mum and my grandparents to tell them.

“It was good fun overall, some of it was a bit stressful, particularly the sleeves, as they took two weeks. I think the corset was the most fun; it was my first time making one, and it was really exhilarating when it came together.

“My tutor, Natasha, helped me with my project. She gave me advice, including things that could be altered or changed in a way that would improve the dress.

Natasha Holdgate, Scarlet’s lecturer, added:
“I am so incredibly proud of Scarlett, she has worked so hard, she’s here every single day, she arrives an hour before each lesson and works until 8pm in the evenings sometimes.

“One thing I noticed Scarlet grow and develop with was responding to a live brief. I think she went about it in a really mature way, which was really reflected in the project.

“She responds incredibly well to feedback, and she is constantly striving to achieve her best. We are so proud that the Royal Ballet and Opera House have recognised what an amazing talent she is.”

Scarlet’s dress will go on public display alongside other students’ work in the Linbury Foyer at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from 11 June to 1 July 2025.