I am a contemporary and versatile designer specialising in printed textiles. Much of my design work is shaped by my love of storytelling and bold and intricate pattern and colour.
Final Project
Home is Not a Place
Fashion is an explicit communication of self and the culture you represent. This project seeks to explore the effect of migration on print design, fashion, and our society, through a collection of designs for luxury womenswear. I have found both fashion and migration to be great catalysts of change and that, over time, the diversity that the movement of people brings has helped form our society into who we are, both individually and as a nation.
I focused my project on my grandmother’s migration from Belize to the UK in 1960, using interviews with her as the starting point for my research.
Much of my primary research stems from Brixton, home to a diverse community and businesses that are fighting against gentrification to preserve London’s Caribbean cultural experience. The vibrant colours of storefronts that I found within Brixton village, particularly those selling exotic fruit, inspired my colour palette for this collection. Another source of inspiration was the bright hues that I found within Madras fabric, a cloth I found to have a rich history within cultures across the Caribbean. A staple across the Caribbean diaspora, the piece of cloth was designed to make you feel like you were back at ‘home’, putting colour and warmth in your household to help you forget about the cold grey winters.
The collection brings together a range of different processes and materials to reflect the project’s aim of being a celebration of diversity. I was interested in implementing traditional African textiles, after discussing my heritage with my grandmother. I researched and sampled traditional African fabrics such as mud and bark cloth and indigo-dyed tree cotton, learning about the environmentally responsible process behind making these natural fabrics.
Journey to the Show
Pictures of my grandmother from before and after she migrated from Belize informed my choices in motifs and shapes for the garments I produced.
My project’s concept developed as my visual research became more in depth. I implemented research from both historical and contemporary designers to inform my work.
I drew and painted both from life and primary photography, setting up still life scenes with exotic fruit like that of what I found in Brixton Village.
I abstracted initial imagery, developing the observational drawings to become more stylised designs. I made repeat tiles from designs, testing a range of different compositions, repeats and colourways.
In the print room, I created 3 metre lengths of layered print pastes, exploring different scales and other print techniques. I experimented with VAT print paste, devore, flock and different dyeing methods to achieve results that reflected the luxury feel needed for my concept.
Alongside screen printing designs, I introduced lino-cut relief prints and digitally printed silks into the collection. I developed my skills using processes such as hand embroidery, whilst also testing new mediums such as batik and jacquard.
Work Experience
I worked as a print and home design assistant at Cath Kidston for the duration of my placement year. I was asked to continue working for the business part time throughout the final year of my degree.
I also designed both print and product for luxury swimwear start up Swim Society.
Visionary Thinkers
Visionary Creators
Visionary Makers