A shop showcasing the talent and creativity of Solent University students and graduates has opened in the Spark building.

The university’s retail initiative known as Re:So has opened a permanent shop on its main campus, which is now open to the public.

The store is run and stocked by students and is open Monday to Friday, between the hours of 10am to 5pm at East Park Terrace.

Run by students and offering handcrafted products including jewellery, soft furnishings and artwork made by the university’s artists and illustrators - it is all the work of students and alumni.

Re:So also offers industry placements to future-proof graduate careers.

Fashion management undergraduate and the shop's finance and supplier manager, Lily Wood, said: “My role with Re:So has given me the opportunity to gain valuable experience with high responsibility.

“I can use that experience in my career when I graduate – something I wouldn’t have been able to do elsewhere.

“Working at Re:So has allowed me to develop the skills I am learning on my course in a supportive environment to best prepare for future job roles.”

The initiative also offers paid work experience across a range of roles that enhance students’ and graduates’ knowledge of running a successful business.

Students are given the opportunity to learn about marketing, merchandising and events – skills they can put into practice when they embark on their own creative careers.

Senior lecturer in fashion marketing and Re:So lead, Lesley Taylor, said: “This is an exciting time for Re:So, which has been giving our students a platform, alongside industry experience, for a decade now.

“Bringing the initiative onto our main campus, where Re:So will continue to be an integral part of the curriculum, will increase visibility among our student population and encourage more of the city’s community to visit us at The Spark.”

Solent University takes a cut of the shop profits to fund the shop and the remaining revenue goes straight to the creators and artists.