Harriet de Roeper, Nicole Bradshaw, Kingston University
ARTS THREAD has a look at ones to watch from Graduate Fashion Week 2010.
Nicole Bradshaw, Kingston University: ‘The collection is a platform for luxury and desirability. Designed for the professional urban woman who wants to look effortless and feel ultra empowering. The clothes are an investment, and can be described as second skin.’
Harriet de Roeper, Kingston University: ‘I was inspired by the 1963 art house film version of Lord of the Flies. I have always been drawn to a sharp tailored look which correlated well with the traditional school boy uniform from the novel. I wanted to translate the chaos within my garments without losing sophistication.’
Carla Grima, Alexa Papavasileiou, UCA Rochester
Carla Grima, UCA Rochester: ‘My collection is inspired by Andre Kertesz’s photographs of distorted bodies, which developed into the concept of distortion within movement. The garments have been designed to fit distorted silhouettes, and drape on proportional figures. The distorted garments reflect this concept through the contrast of draped, fluid shapes and fitted panels.’
Alexa Papavasileiou, UCA Rochester: ‘Finding the silent harmony through contrasting chaos; translating mental challenges into a design concept. Originally my ideas developed from the alchemical symbol “Ouroboros” which aided my train of thought, and it became the name of the collection.’
Lisa Leisos, Matilda Andersson, Nadia Scullion, Edinburgh College of Art
Nadia Scullion, Edinburgh College of Art : ‘My collection was inspired by the concept of sequence and experimenting with altering the sequence of how we get dressed. I wanted to question preconceived notions of how we choose to wear clothing through individual styling and layering of garments.’
Matilda Andersson, Edinburgh College of Art: ‘The collection started with research into identities, and how your identity changes in relations with others.’
Lisa Leisos, Edinburgh College of Art: ‘The continual line and form has been the original focus for my collection. I’ve aimed to focus on a flowing organic presence through its alternative construction leading to a stimulating silhouette through simplicity of a shape and experimentation with hue.’
Bunmi Olaye, Johanna Greenish, University of East London
Bunmi Olaye, University of East London: ‘‘Matriarchy’ sets the scene for an Autumn/Winter 2010 collection, celebrating female empowerment and domination, a fusion between Nigeria and Great Britain. Inspiration came from fascination with the Ekpe leopard masquerade cult from the South East of Nigeria fused with 19th Century Scottish missionary Mary Slessor who was in the country at the same time.’
Johanna Greenish, University of East London: ‘My collection was inspired by an art exhibition I saw in Hackney, featuring work by Abigail Reynolds and Tove Storch which combined linear curves with harsh geometric lines.’
Tacita, Northbrook College Sussex
Tacita, Northbrooke College: ’The main theme for my collection was a fusion of the French Revolution and 1960′s rock and roll. In addition I took inspiration from musicians such as Alison Mosshart and Florence Welch, and used these influences to create a collection that shows dark femininity and an irreverent attitude.’
Hannah Shrubb, Tom Crisp, Ravensbourne
GFW Menswear Award Winner Thomas Crisp, Ravensbourne: ‘In a game of word association, if someone said menswear this collection would be my gut reaction. It encompasses my favourite references. The rebellious mood of the ‘Gilded Youth’, which is a reference to Parisian street gangs in the late 1800′s, who were the first true dandies. The geometric elements of the collection were inspired by urban environments, and my favourite artist Delta’
Hannah Shrubb, Ravensbourne: ‘Isaiah 3:16-24′ The Lord says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes…”
Emma Dick, Miranda Florence Boucher, Phoebe Thirlwall, Nottingham Trent
Emma Dick, Nottingham Trent: ’A trip to Moscow inspired my collection, the history of the former Soviet Union and Russian Constructivist graphic design really inspired me. It was Russian work wear that I had a real interest in.’
Phoebe Thirlwall, Nottingham Trent: ‘My collection is based on skin and flesh on the human body. I have looked at the elbows and the knees and the way the skin is elastic. I have also looked at the skin in microscopic detail, the cells and layers of the skin.’
Miranda Florence Boucher, Nottingham Trent: ‘My project was influenced by the costume in Alfred Hitchcock films of the 1940s and early 1950s. The collection recreates the mood of tension and suspense; confident and contemporary silhouettes reflect the strong, independent yet still feminine characters.’
Joanna Levine, ECA Epsom
Joanna Levine, UCA Epsom: ‘My collection has been inspired by Caravaggio, and his striking use of light and shadow was a major inspiration. The garments’ silhouettes came from large underground crystal formations in Mexico. The glow in the blackness of the caves and formed some really interesting shadows i attempted to create designs which would form own shadows and form intricate silhouettes.’
SJM Wilson, Northumbria
SJM Wilson, Northumbria University of Fashion Design: ’19th century clowns, feminine menswear and European high fashion’
Emma Graham White, Kelly Levell, Arts University College Bournemouth
Kelly Levellth, Arts University College Bournemouth : ‘I am interested in making a difference within fashion where ethics can be positively employed through the manufacture and supply of fashion products as a whole. I have built the foundations to start an ethical fashion organisation that focuses on raising awareness of ethical fashion and teaching people how to up-style their clothing.’
Emma Graham White, Arts University College Bournemouth : ‘I was originally inspired by British birds for this collection. I used the shapes of birds to create patterns and the colours of certain birds to inspire my colour palette.’
Ella Jensen, Saint Petersburg State University of Technology and Design, Tara Jaaskelainen, ESMOD Paris
Tara Jaaskelainen, ESMOD Paris: ‘I was inspired by this state called ‘hypnopompic’. It is a psychological and emotional state of consciousness between waking up and dreaming, trying to make sense of what is real and what was dream.’
Ella Jensen, Saint Petersburg State University of Technology and Design: ‘It’s a mix of inspirations taken from ancient times, reaching into how I imagine the future of clothes design. With this collection I tried to connect the traditional costume of ancient Africa, with the design of a still unknown future of a mankind living in a world beyond and much different to ours.’
Amber Hards, Oana Balan, UWE Bristol
Amber Hards, UWE Bristol: ‘”Jellyfish Blooms” is a knitwear collection inspired by the movement, form, colour and texture of jellyfish, using intricate techniques with nylon monofilament and lycra to create voluminous and unusual shapes.’
Oana Balan, UWE Bristol: ‘My work generally questions beliefs and social-cultural issues, expressing the so called Spirit of the Time. This collection “Gardeners, the soldiers of God and the Hunters of Desires” is based on creation and relates the beginnings of the humankind fashioned by God Himself.’
