About Me
Hi, I am Constance, a fashion BA graduate from Kingston University
Specialising in womenswear and print, I manipulate colour and photography to create my digital prints. Which are printed on natural fibres that link back to my main inspiration which is nature. This can also be seen in my silhouettes that are twisted and softened to reflect nature.
Growing up in a Sierra Leonean household I have been surrounded by colourful imagery which has shaped my design style. Colour manipulation is a key element of my design process focusing on different hues of the same colour and using placement and tone to build prints. I mix menswear details with feminine silhouettes to add a sharpness to my designs that keeps the link with nature. Mixing subtle hints of masculine details with monocoloured floral prints to create strong and sensitive womenswear.
INSPIRATION
My initial inspiration was the nature of Sierra Leone the country that my family is from
I felt that it was important to explore this in my work as it is vital to highlight the virtues of Sierra Leone when many only see the negatives. I wanted to use my collection to show the hidden beauty that not many people get to see. I was struck by the natural beauty of the beaches and plant life. I used River No. 2 beach as one of my main inspirations for this collection and I use my photography from this trip in my mood and print development.
I was also inspired by a visit to my aunties house outside of Freetown near Waterloo, she grows a lot of her own food and plants. Plants have always been an interest to me, so I was instantly inspired by the vibrant colours and interesting textures this influenced my prints. It was important that each element of my collection was representative of something I saw or experienced on this trip and growing up in a Sierra Leonean household, such as the macramé that I have though out my collection.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Mood Board
Fabrication Development
Colour Development
Print Research
Print 2 Development
Print 3 Development
Tailored Jacket Development
Tailored Trousers Development
Pleated Dress Development
Bag Development
Macramé Development
Line up
Look 4 Technical Flats
Look 6 Top Technical Flats
Look 7 Trousers Technical Flats
Look Book 1
Look Book 2
Look Book 3
Look Book 4
DETAIL
I wanted to represent Sierra Leone in a fresh way, using fashion to represent its natural beauty
It was important that fabrication was also representative of the natural elements, I chose fabrics that are associated with Sierra Leone such as cotton which plays a big role in my collection as cotton is a fabric that I have seen my whole life to make traditional clothing in my mother’s wardrobe. Texture was an important part; seen in the crinkle cotton silk I use that represents the texture of the sand at River No 2 beach. The macrame is also a nod to the decorative baskets that I have always had in my house and is a traditional technique of weaving raffia, it was important for me to bring back a hand craft element as handcrafts are an important part of Sierra Leone textiles. My main aim was to represent Sierra Leone in a fresh and interesting way representing the natural elements of the land which has resulted in a collection of strong sensitive womenswear that represents the general mood and visuals of Sierra Leone’s natural landscape.
I don't believe in making fashion difficult. Women should have choices, and women should feel good in what they wear- Phoebe Philo
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
