About Me
Fashion Design Graduate from Leeds Arts University
Heather Sprowson specialises in menswear and fashion illustration, focusing on denim and developing handcrafted textiles. A reflection of her attention to detail and love for illustration, she has been a shortlisted artist for the Fida Illustration Awards and winner of the GFW24 Fashion Portfolio Award.
Producing relaxed menswear designs, with a genderless approach, her graduate collection highlights an appreciation for craftsmanship and slow fashion pieces. Influenced by the historical impact of the denim industry and its 'workers blues' origins with a focus on denim detailing and development of highly textured, handcrafted pieces.
INSPIRATION
INDIGO CHROMA 24'
An exploration of denim: past, present and future. Heather Sprowson's 2024 graduate collection 'Indigo Chroma' showcases sustainable denim menswear. Initial inspiration for colour and texture derives from her father's family engineering factory and the toxic chemicals worked with. The reactions that occur when chrome (chromium VI) comes into contact with denim, and its erosion of led, produce rusty orange and olive-green hues. Washed over time, chrome causes a breakdown of the heavy-duty workwear fibres.
'Indigo' reflecting the colour most associated with denim and its workwear origins, Heather Sprowson reinterprets timeless denim classics, appreciating the fabric historically known for its durability. 'Chroma' literally meaning, the intensity of colour. Referring to the hints of dyed orange denim, oversized crochet accessories and screen-printed green hues within the collection, inspired by chromes chemical reactions.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
DETAIL
Highly textured hand stitch and laser etched denim
The highly textured pieces within the collection reflect extensive research surrounding the impact of the denim industry and its water intensive finishing processes, similarly the degradation of fibres and distressed effect caused by chrome. As means for sustainable alternatives to processes such as bleaching and stone washing, laser etching and hand stitching wool scraps have been utilised. Replicating the distressed denim and exaggerating the idea of frayed denim. Heather Sprowson's aims of creating slow fashion pieces is evident through the use of organic and unwashed denim, acknowledging the fabrics longevity and colour, which will fade over time. Other carefully considered fabrics in this collection include deadstock and scrap fabric and trims. Additionally, a donation of selvedge denim offcuts from Hiut Denim Co. a small jeans making factory in wales whom share the same appreciation for superior quality and craftsmanship, their ethos 'Do one thing well.'
“Denim is different. It gets better with age.” - Hiut Denim Co.
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
