Interviews: Fashion Design Shortlist
In a unique opportunity, six graduating students were selected for a portfolio review over video call. Presenting their final year collections to Adam Andrascik and Nick Knight, each student was paired with another industry expert. Charles Jeffrey, Martine Rose, Sarah Mower, Anya Ziourova, Pierre A. M’Pelé and Daphne Guinness were on hand to give invaluable feedback, sharing their expertise and advice as the graduates prepare to step out on their own.
Topics of conversation include resisting the commercial pressures of the fashion system as a graduate, preparing for an MA, fashion's digital future and how to get the right exposure for your designs.
In a unique opportunity, six graduating students were selected for a portfolio review over video call. Presenting their final year collections to Adam Andrascik and Nick Knight, each student was paired with another industry expert. Charles Jeffrey, Martine Rose, Sarah Mower, Anya Ziourova, Pierre A. M’Pelé and Daphne Guinness were on hand to give invaluable feedback, sharing their expertise and advice as the graduates prepare to step out on their own.
The student discusses their BA final collection with Nick Knight, Adam Andrascik and special guest, creative maverick Daphne Guinness.
Yang's collection investigates biodegradable materials to visualise the nature of decomposition. Guinness, known for her extraordinary personal fashion archive, talks about how she would wear the collection- one part a physical garment which will decompose, the other existing only within a digital entity.
The student discusses their BA final collection with Nick Knight, Adam Andrascik and special guest Sarah Mower.
Dedicated to the Celtic Goddess of Horses, Epona, Davies' collection explores strands of Paganism and the Celtic origins of her birth name. Up-cycled saddles both critique the hourglass figure, worshipped as an ideal by the Western world, and work as posture devices. The panel discuss the collection's holistic, sustainable approach to design, its commercial potential and making a fashion film in your living room.
The student discusses their BA final collection with Nick Knight, Adam Andrascik and special guest, designer Charles Jeffrey.
Initially looking to 19th century modesty bibs, Chapman’s collection- made entirely from deadstock materials- draws on a layered approach to dressing which encourages the wearer to combine small garments to create various looks. Jeffrey advises on what methods of research could help to prepare her for an MA, and how to amplify the sense of identity in a collection.
The student discusses their BA final collection with Nick Knight, Adam Andrascik and special guest, designer Martine Rose.
Having hand-stitched their six look collection together using only donated fabric- saving spending a single penny on their final collection- Daniel talks the panel through his focus on fabric development. Loaded with illustrations and motifs, Rose explains why the collection is ‘punk’ in the truest sense of the word whilst Andrascik picks up on the art historic references embedded in Daniel’s research. Rose also offers her advice on how to survive as a young graduate designer whilst resisting commercial pressure.
The student discusses their BA final collection with Nick Knight, Adam Andrascik and special guest Anya Ziourova, Vogue Hong Kong’s fashion director.
Deconstructing the relationship between masculinity and power, exploring control through privilege, Bell's collection is a contemporary take on traditional gendered garments such as tailored suits, corsets and bridal wear. Ziourova unpicks the editorial potential for the collection and Andrascik offers advice on how to get his work seen by the right people.
The student discusses their BA final collection with Nick Knight, Adam Andrascik and special guest, fashion journalist Pierre A. M’Pelé.
Tang’s nine piece collection explores minimalism through routine, connectivity and efficiency. Commenting on the modernity of the designs, the panellists advise Tang on how to resist the pressures of the fashion system. M’Pelé explains why he’d love to see the garments featured in LOVE magazine whilst Knight is drawn to the possibilities for a fashion film.
