Read All About It!

So the book has arrived...huzzah!

Image by DNAnderson Photography

I must admit, when I first saw the book, I couldn't believe how good it looked.  Some of the designers featured in Rising Fashion Designers : Europe are truly inspirational, and it's a real honour to appear alongside them.

Heriot Watt University School of Textiles and Design has 3 students in it, all who graduated this year.  Myself, Claire Hunter and Deborah Morgan.  I remember when we were first asked about it and there was a very short time frame in which to shoot our collections....queue David anderson.

Image by DNAnderson Photography

Most of you will be aware of David's work because we have worked together in the last two years, but if you're not be sure to head over to his website and have a look.  He's really rather fantastic.  They've even made one of the images the very last image in the book, so it's the last thing you will see!

Thank you to Kevin Mdanga and Nicole Gardner for modelling so short notice and making this shoot really fun and really successful.  Especially Nicole for modelling that dreaded "peephole burkha"  

Obviously the biggest thank you goes to David, for being extremely supportive, helpful and professional.  It's great to work with someone who has a genuine interest in fashion and understanding of any brief/concept given, while being able to take the time to explain what works best from the photography side.  I hope we will continue to work together in the future, as clearly we always achieve some really fantastic, stand out results.

Image by DNAnderson Photography

If you want to buy the book head over here and get yourself a copy!

Rising Fashion Designers Europe

I'm mega excited to announce that a shoot I did of my capsule collection with the amazing David Anderson has been published in this book!

I haven't actually managed to get my hands on a copy of it yet, but it should be arriving soon and I think I might actually cry when I see it!  The thought of other fashion students as well as creative individuals and enthusiasts flicking through the pages and seeing my work is a dream come true :)

If you fancy a copy then head over to amazon, the book is sold out on a lot of websites, but you can get a copy for as cheap as £15

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Europe-Fashion-Designers-Patrick-Gottelier/dp/0764342428

Check it out!!!

I was also approached by the book creator to include my graduate collection for the next book so you never know, maybe I'll get published twice

Glasgow : Street Children

SNEAKY SNEAKY!

This years research

Joan Eardley : Samson Children

I write again from the studio.  Today it's incredible dull outside.  The rain is lashing on the windows, which is a nice change from all of the unbearably hot weather we get here in Edinburgh....

The studio is buzzing with 4th years, which is interesting.  I am noticing that they all get on a lot better than my last class, and EVERYONE uses the studio, which is great to see as I recall a different feeling in Galashiels...

Anyways, today I will post the calling cards that were completed last week.  I have a presentation in two weeks of all of my initial research so as you can imagine it's a hectic time for me, but I'm ploughing through it all with a reasonably fast pace.

I'm off home now...not sure if I'll be getting the train or swimming...

Hidden Stories...

So as some of you will be aware, Heriot Watt School of Textiles Fashion Show was a long long time ago in June!

There has been a video popping up all over the place so I figured I would jump on the badwagon and post it here for your viewing pleasure, just incase you hadn't seen it!  Here is a selection of the collections in the show, as well as some film of the designers and models!

I'm the first student to pop up on the screen about 30 seconds in...it was an extremely uncomfortable ordeal for someone who HATES being in front of the camera, but I thought it was a nice additions to the film (having US in there, not me)

http://vimeo.com/46358479  

 

Reporting Live From The Studio...

So, after a busy busy week of running around one of the most beuatiful buildings in the world, I have finally settled in to Edinburgh College of Art.

Quite daunting at first I have to admit even although I have been to the college for a number of portfolio, life drawings and painting classes, I found it quite difficult to know exactly where I was meant to be!

MA FASHION at ECA

Very different.  Firstly, I don't really have a set timetable, the course is very much self directed which is great as there is a lot of freedom to go nip around the different buildings and not have to sign a register everytime I got to a class! Huzzah!

MA Fashion consists of 4 students...INCLUDING myself!  I am also the only British person, the other three being chinese.  My friend Anchel, from India is studying Performance Constume and is the only one in her class, so I guess we are lucky!

CALLING CARDS

The first brief, produce a calling card for a "Speed Dating" event with other postgraduates from the design school.  We had to make 16-20 so it shouldn't be too complicated...these people clearly don't know who I am!  After a lot of brainstorming I came up with a nifty wee thing, which had to say my name, where I'm from, what I did before coming to ECA and what I am here to do.  Well I decided to make a sewing kit.  The idea being that I do fashion and I sew...quite a lot.  After making a paper pattern, printing and re-printing and a LOT of sticking foam to card I finished my first one...another 19 to go!  They all turned out great, and they were very well received by my fellow students!  Apart from anything else, everyone thought they were very useful so that was a bonus!

I'll take pictures and post them on here so you can have a gander, some of the ones I got were absolutely fantastic.

RESEARCH

Anybody that knows me, knows I love nothing better than sticking my head into a mountain of books, breaking my shoulder carrying round a bag that is full of reading material (don't worry, the ikea bag has gone this year) so research is definitely my favourite part of the design process!

I have a whole 3 MONTHS to do this, so I'm absolutely raring to go.  Yesterday and today I have been sifting through the archives of the National Gallery of Modern Art Archives which has been a great resource for me.  I'm not sure about the white gloves though...

I have has some battles with the library as I actually have found there is a lack of books here for fashion...I'm really surprised at this as I wouldn't have thought Heriot Watt would come up trumps on this, however I guess Gala is only fashion students so no wonder there is basically a whole floor of research books there...

THOUGHTS...

I really wasn't sure about the place when I first arrived, the facilities are definitely not what I am used to and I was a bit confused as to what is expected of me, but I must admit I am really falling for it.  Heriot Watt School of Textiles was a great university and the skills I have learnt will stay with me forever but the amount of contacts I have made here from all over the globe is really refreshing and I think this is going to be a great year for me.

I'm also amazed at the amount of contact time I have with the head of Fashion Mal Birkinshaw, who is such an enthusiastic person and an inspiring figure to have guiding us along the way.  All in all, ECA Fashion seems to be a winner.

Photos to follow...

One thing I must say to all those still in Galashiels - It really is true, your facilities and space is UNBEATABLE

Mr Boateng

I can't remember if I actually mentioned the outcome of the "A Man's Story" Competition, but I was one of the five winners!  It's been quite a long time since I was bombarding every friends facebook with a link to my entry with the words VOTE FOR ME all over the place and I am yet to meet the absolute fashion icon and master that is Ozwald Boateng.

Im super excited to reveal that it will be in the second week of October, so look out!  I might get some snaps with the man himself!

NYFW 12

In the weeks up to the show I was bombarded with messages and tweets about the new collection, including a sneak peek of the inspirations, sketches and suits to come.

Boateng's camp were definitely trying to create some hype in the run up to the show.  Being a longtime fan of the superstar tailor, I was of course looking forward to seeing his vision, but I wasn't quite prepared for what was in store.

The Show took place at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City in the Arise African Icons Tent,  helping to rewrite Africa's Story.  5 designers showcased in total, Boateng, Maki Oh, Tifanny Amber, Gavin Rajah and Tsemaye Binitie, showing some of the most cultural and beautful creations.

Beginning with the trailer of his recently released film, the show launched straight into a high and energetic surge of power.  (HOT) Men walked down the catwalk with some of the most insane colours, patterns, fabrics combinations and styling I have ever seen from menswear.  Truly stunning.  The music (which is posted at the top of the page) was amazing, one of my all time favourite songs!  I'm not usually into these dub remixes as sometimes they are just god awful, but this really worked.

This was one of my favourite pieces, I love me an overcoat!  I have to say, as someone that shys away from colour and generally doesn't love a man in head-to-toe pattern, this collection has changed my view.  Regardless of the fact that there is an obvious African influence, the colours and prints are bold and bright and its official, men do look good in them.

Congrats Mr Boateng, once again you have completely changed my opinion of menswear for the better.

Fashion is over...

well for another few days anyway.

I havent posted anything on this for about 2 months or so...why? Because I have had nothing to say!

When I visited Kingston University in London a few months ago, one of the lecturers there said something very interesting.  That they advise students to study MA Fashion as part timers because it's far too much work to put into one year and they want their students to come out in the best shape that they can...

And I wasn't in that shape when I finished at Heriot Watt, let me tell you!  I have been taking time out to relax and get myself back in order, before I start all over again, and I have to tell you, I am not ashamed of that.  A lot of people think that students sleep all day, only getting up to have some beans on toast before heading out to the pub...I never did this once.  My experience of university was a LOT more hectic than that...and I'm excited to say I'm going back!

I got into both Kingston University and Edinburgh College of Art to do MA Fashion courses.  Controversially, I chose ECA for 3 reasons.

1 - I live in Scotland and I love it
2 - It has a great reputation
3 - I can afford it...sort of

I'm really excited to be starting in a few weeks and to be honest, due to the topics I've been researching, Scotland is the best place for me to be - more on that later!

So I will be posting on this more on the reg, just incase anybody is interested in what's going on.  This year I'm doing a lot more experimental things within menswear so watch this space ;)

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