On The Row...

Okay.  It has arrived.

AMBER HUNTER MEETS OZWALD BOATENG

This evening could go two ways.  Either I will be up all night or I will be sound asleep...why? THE CALEDONIAN SLEEPER!  Last week I received THE email and I have to say, my stomach hasn't stopped doing summersaults since.

At 23:40pm I will be boarding the train to take a journey through the night, arriving in London at a horrifically early time, but when you have a meeting with the biggest man in menswear fashion who cares!  I'm also going first class, so a berth to myself is more than welcome, along with the complementary breakfast thank you very much.

With the other 4 winners of the A Man's Story Competition, I will be spending the day on Savile Row.  First to meet and talk to the man himself and pester him with every question about his life, career and the industry and second to assist the design team.

On the 20th of September, Ozwald Boateng will showcase his SS13 collection at Moscow Fashion Week, and I am extremely lucky to be part of the team helping prepare everything for the day.  I'm SO excited I can barely breathe.

I'll let you know how it all goes :D

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 ;)

X

Graduate Fashion Show

Thursday 7th June was a very long and stressful day indeed! Final Fashion Show for Heriot Watt University showcasing the graduate collection "See No Evil : Secrets In The Suictases.  The show was curated by Mark Eley of Eley Kishimoto and held at Dovecot Studio in Edinburgh.

Due to dressing problems we all were assigned to a model so I was quite sad that I wasn't able to see the collection hit the runway but hey ho, the other students did a fantastic job of ensuring everything was okay for the men to strut their stuff on the very long catwalk.

Here are some images of the show preview on the day.  A massive thank you to all involved and the models themselves who were a really nice bunch :)

Harris Tweed Coat, Boucle Jumper, Paneled  Trousers

Wool Jacket with Leather Piping, Contrast Panel Shirt and Rag Rugged Wool Trousers

Cashmere Cape, Gathered Knit Jumper and Paneled Wool Trousers

Leather Paneled Coat, Plain Knit Jumper and Wool Paneled Trousers

Brown Leather Paneled Jacket, Contrast Panel Shirt and Pinstriped Trousers

Wool Jumpsuit with Rag Rugged Paneled Leg

See No evil : Secrets In The Suitcases

All garments were designed and made by myself with some help from my intern and sister Jasmyn Hunter.  The collection is featured in my fashion film which was mentioned recently on fashion guru Claire Stuarts blog 

NEXT UP : Ispire The Attire 2, G2E Events, Tall Ship, Glasgow

17th August 7:30 - 12am

So Excited!!! :) 

News...

I haven't posted on the blog for a looong time because I have been so busy busy busy!

News :

Ozwald Boateng

Thank you so much to all of those who took the time to vote on my A Man's Story competition entry.  After the votes were cast, the top 30 were shown to Ozwald Boateng himself and he chose 5 overall winners.  I am extremely excited to be 1 of those 5, giving me the opportunity to meet one of my all time fashion heroes at his design studio on Savile Row.  PINCH ME!  Boateng took to his twitter account to congratulate us and say that he was excited to work with us...AHHHH!!!!

Heriot Watt Fashion Show 2012

As I had stated previously, there was a selection process to determine who would be showcasing their collections at the Dovecot on the 7th of June.  I was playing DJ for a day in the room which was horrible, as when my collection came in I had to look at the wall because it was so awkward.  Anyways! Long story short I made the cut.  I feel very privileged as our year is extremely strong with everyone having worked so hard for the last 4 years.

www.hubtickets.co.uk for tickets!

Who's Next/Pret a Porter Paris

I am vey excited to announce that I am one of 10 graduates in the world to be invited to this competition.  50 other students have been selected internationally by their course leaders to be up for the chance to present our current collections in Paris at this event. Winners will be announced on Monday!  I am not under any illusion that I will be successful in this, as I know how unbelievably talented the other students are, but to be 1 of 10 invited is MAJOR!

I think that's everything for just now.  The Heriot Watt School of Textiles Degree Show opens on Friday so if you are in the neighbourhood (unlikely) come along and have a look at the amazing talent coming out of the school this year.

4 More Days...

4 Days until the competition for Ozwald Boateng ENDS!!!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take the time to head over to the facebook page, like it and then press the blue VOTE button to help me out!!!!!

http://bit.ly/H63lDC

GO GO GO!!!!!!!

Well...

So uni classes are over...OH.MY.GOD

does this mean I have to try and get a job now?!

So last week was the final walkthrough, last chance to impress a panel and get into the show..AHH!!  I was in fact in on the whole thing due to my amazing music skills (pressing play and then skipping every time a new collection came in)  Due to the fact that there are so many of us only a select few made the cut and we found out Monday morning who the lucky ones were.

I have to admit, some of the decisions seemed unfair, if everybody could get in then it would be a lot easier!  The show is at the Dovecot in Edinburgh, 7th June for anyone who wants to pencil it in their diary!  It promises to be a good night, with Mark Eley curating the whole thing, including an exhibition which runs for a week or two.

So what have I been up to?  Work. Work. Work.

At the weekend I bothered Jamie Hillen for the last time (maybe) to use his body and beautiful face for my fashion film.  I have to say it was ore fun than work, so that was a pleasant surprise, with most of the clips consisting of jamie laughing at the worst possible moments and being a general idiot!  After going through everything with a fine tooth comb I have alllmost got the finished result, ill post it on here once I have finished!

On Thursday I will be showcasing my collection in the first of a few shows I have been asked to be a part of.  this one is a charity show in Edinburgh and promises to be a good evening!  Tickets are £8 and you can buy them on the door so if anyone is around come along and help raise some money for charity!

A Man's Story

So this week I have been working on a number of things, but most importantly my entry for the "A Man's Story" Competition.

A Man's Story is a documentary film, skimming through the past 12 YEARS of one of the most influential menswear designers in the world.  Ozwald Boateng.  This man is an absolute genius.  Having visited his Savile Row store last Autumn and keeping a watchful eye on his collections over the years, this is a film that I was so excited to see, so you can imagine how disappointed I was to see that the film wouldn't show until a day before the initial closing date of the competition!

Being the chancer that I am, I phoned up press for the film and the lovely Suhan sent a copy out to me straight away!  I sat in my room ( I felt sorry for my flatmate that night because I literally just left her on her own for half the night) on my own with my laptop in-front of me and stared at the screen with my mouth open pretty much the whole time.

This man is the definition of brilliance.  Someone that fought his way to the top and still fights everyday to keep things at the highest level.  I wont give too much away, as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it but I really do recommend it!  So my concept from the whole film was the idea of no matter what is happening the show must go on.  All the struggles, the fights the drama, everything has to be put aside for this one show that could effectively change everything or balance everything out.

if you have a spare minute please go onto the page, like a mans story and then VOTE on my designs!  Make sure its the Mood Board one NOT the final lineup one...just so all votes are going to the same thing! :D

http://bit.ly/H63lDC

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Development

I thought it would be a good idea to put up the development of the collection which I would have done already but I have so much work that it's hard to keep track of!

This collection has been an ongoing project for the past two years, and the amount of time and effort I have put in to it is really quite unbelieveable to me.  Looking back over everything it's amazing to see how one idea can spark and entire world of research, development, knitting, sampling, weaving, experimental textures, design, pattern cutting, fabric sourcing, construction and so on and so forth...oooft!

Inspiration and Development

A few images of the beginnings of the collection, including my self initiated brief.  To date, I have designed, printed and hand bound 28 books of research.  This seems like a lot (who am I kidding it's ridiculous) but is in actual fact all relevant and has helped me arrive at the stage I am now.  A lot of time and effort, but successful at the same time.  All of the pages were made to look worn, like they would in an old book or journal.  As Ian Brady documented a lot of the murders and wrote in books often, I felt this would add to the overall mood of my research.

 Sketchbook Work

Mostly collaging of inspiration and hand drawn garment illustrations.  These took a long time, however the end result was worth it!  I tend to draw a number of garmnets and then the final stage will be to select combinations to start to develop a final lineup.

And.........BREATHE

So here we arrive at the final lineup.  i definitely worry that the end result doesn't look as good as the illustrated line up...but let's hope that this is not the case!  

 

Photoshoot

Designer : Amber Hunter

Model : Jamie Hillen

Photographer : David Anderson @ DNAnderson

Assistant : Kerry Lytwyn

So on Friday I travelled through to Glasgow (VERY EARLY START) to give this photoshoot thing a go...

With a suitcase full of shoes and ties, a clothing rail (which I didn't need in the end) 6 garment bags and a load of other things I didn't need (a woman's handbag really is an aladdin's cave) I travelled up the never ending stairs to contrast studios in Glasgow.

My model Jamie arrived shortly after, followed by Photographer genius David Anderson and his lovely assistant Kerry Lytwyn.  I had been up all night ironing and fixing things so that everything would run smoothly so it is safe to say I was feeling quite tired, but still excited for the day ahead.

All looks were shot inside at Contrast Studios and then we managed to get outside for a few shots as well.  Luckily the rain had calmed itself down and we didn't get too wet. My intern Sarah was also on hand to help out with dressing and giving advice on different ideas on styling, but I am pleased to say there were no major issues so everything went smoothly!

I cannot stress enough how happy I was with the team of people that helped make this shoot possible and not only did David shoot the collection, he also gave me a lesson on how to tie ties!  And knowing what the collection was based on, had in fact managed to do a bit of background research on the moors murders, what a guy!

I leave you with a taster of what we achieved yesterday, I haven't yet seen the rest of the images, so as you can imagine I am DYING with anticipation!

Designer : Amber Hunter

Model : Jamie Hillen

Photographer : David Anderson @ DNAnderson

Assistant : Kerry Lytwyn

See No Evil photoshoot - DONE