About Me
Hi, I'm a Fashion and Knitwear Designer from Falmouth University
I am a fashion design graduate specialising in knitting and womenswear. Over the course of my studies, I have developed a love for all aspects of machine knitting from designing, calculating and making knit. But, most importantly from my time in Falmouth, I have developed a passion for sustainability in fashion and my designs reflect this.
In my opinion, one of the main issues facing sustainability in the fashion industry right now, is consumers not wanting to keep their clothes for long enough. Clothes nowadays are so cheap and often considered of so little value, that consumers wear them once and throw them away. This issue can be solved by design for longevity through emotional design, which I think is just as important as physical durability. I wanted to design a collection of clothes that consumers will love and cherish forever.
INSPIRATION
Forever & Always, 2022 - a trans-seasonal womenswear collection by Eleanor Reid
My final graduate collection, Forever & Always, is based on how consumers perceive their clothes. I looked at what makes certain garments so special that people form sentimental attachments with them and then choose to keep and wear these garments forever. I researched into design for longevity and emotional durability, learning how to apply emotional design to fashion. Memories and enjoyment are the two main factors involved in creating a strong emotional bond with a product.
My collection is made up of modular garments, which are put together by the consumer as an enjoyable activity, creating a feeling of accomplishment when they are made. I was inspired by my memories of the British countryside, looking at the colours of the landscapes of Britain and Cornwall, in particular. This also influenced my choice of fabrics. I wanted my collection to look familiar, comforting, and to feel like home. It depicts my favourite memories of living in the countryside.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Concept Page
Research
Colour
Toile Review
Development
Development
Collection Line Up
Look 1 and Look 2
Range Plan
Collection Photoshoot
Collection Photoshoot
Collection Photoshoot
Collection Photoshoot
Collection Photoshoot
Collection Photoshoot
Collection Photoshoot
Studio Photoshoot
Studio Photoshoot
DETAIL
The knitwear in my collection was knitted using 100% cotton and second-hand yarns
I used cotton yarn because I wanted to keep the collection natural and biodegradable, as well as feeling soft and comfortable. I wanted to challenge myself by exploring new knit techniques, and created traditional woven checks and tartans in knit. I created my own check and gingham designs and punched these into pattern cards to knit these designs on the domestic machines. For the brown tartan, I used the industrial machines to knit a mock rib, changing the back bed colours, while showing the wrong side of the fabric, to imitate a tartan pattern. The garments are all modular and joined together with knitted cord. The cord is either weaved through eyelets in the knit or, in most garments, is weaved through a knitted binding linked onto the knit. My outfits are made to be user friendly, so any consumer can take the modular elements apart and put them back together again. This gives the consumer the option of styling the garments in different ways, to make completely different looks.
"There is little point designing physical durability into goods if consumers lack the desire to keep them" - Jonathan Chapman
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