About Me
Hi, I am Victoria, and I am a graduate from Heriot-Watt University
For my collection I wanted to highlight the lack of black history being taught in the British Education system today and how the history that is taught is being completely whitewashed. I wanted to create a collection that shared a message while also being sustainable by using dead-stock and/or recyclable fabrics.
Believing art and fashion can be a great educational tool today, I feel it is more accessible and can be shown to people of all ages and backgrounds and be understood, I wanted to show the stories of the forgotten voices within Britain’s history using fabrication techniques such as embroidery, knitting and print work. Being as sustainable as I could by making this collection was a big factor for me as well as I believe in making garments that will stand the test of time and using the amazing resources around us to help stop fabrics going to landfill.
INSPIRATION
Was my family’s history and heritage being ignored and uncelebrated?
Being born to a mixed-race mother and having a black big sister I noticed growing up the history that was taught me to me in school did not show or represent anyone that looked like them which made me question where was their history? After the events of last summer during the BLM protests, I wanted to learn the history that was failed to be taught to me and quite shamefully ignored in the education system today and how I can show my research and tell their history in a visually impactful way.
I started my research about learning about the amazing Elizabeth Dido Belle a British heiress who was daughter of a naval officer and an African slave who grew up here in Britain and was granted her freedom. Reading into her story made me wonder about the other amazing black historical stories; sad and happy that have gone unheard, so I started developing my research looking into the forgotten war effort as well and the treatment of the Windrush generation once they immigrated here in the UK.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Research mood board about the 18th Century
Research about the forgotten war effort
Mood board about the Windrush Generation
Customer mood board
Toiling process for shirt turned cardigan
Print development page
Embroidery making
Wool dying process
Fabric and colour board
The Forgotten range plan
The Forgotten final line-up
Outfit one range page
Outfit two range page
Final photographs showing outfit one
Final photographs showing outfit one
Close up details from outfit one
Final photographs showing outfit two
Final photographs showing outfit two
Close up details from outfit two
DETAIL
Using deadstock and eco-friendly wool to create my garments as well as leftovers to make accessories
By using locally resourced deadstock fabrics from local mills here in Scotland as well as 100% organic wool I was using the best of what was around me and showing that high quality garments can be made without damaging the planet. And even using my spare and left-over scraps to create accessories such as bags and socks I know I have used my materials to their full advantage. Being able to create prints, knits and embroidery referring to art, poems, photography, and documentaries showing elements of ‘The Forgotten’ stories I believe I have portrayed my concept well and proved my point of art and fashion being a great educational tool. Also using shapes and silhouettes from different time periods within my research such as 18th century womenswear, 1910’s- 1940’s Militant uniforms and the 1960’s to early 70’s for the Windrush generation I felt honoured to be able to bring these stories to life that have been swept under the rug and not shown and celebrated as much as they should be.
“Am I not a man and a Brother?”- Josiah Wedgwood a British abolitionist
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