About Me
I’m Louise, A Fashion Design Graduate from Nottingham Trent University
I have studied fashion and textiles for 6 years now. I specialise in inclusive womenswear and print design; the end user is the primary focus for my design after extensive research into womenswear. My collection designs from a female gaze for hyper-feminine reality, stemming from my own struggles with skin irritation, clothing wearability and sexism.
My aesthetic features florals, botanicals, rich colours and luxury materials creating a romantic mood inspired by English Heritage. Silhouette, shape, cut and attention to detail are made to be accessible and unique within my collection via plus size pattern cutting and adaptive solutions. My final year fashion collection is a formal wear capsule wardrobe, size-inclusive, adaptive, and skin soft, addressing a gap in the market for skin sensitive clothing and adaptive formal wear.
INSPIRATION
Inspired by My Personal Heritage as a Military Child
My collection explores British identity through a personal lens, with my perspectives on class and taste in British culture. As the daughter of an Army officer, my views on English Heritage and patriotism are complex. Experiencing anxiety surrounding societal and political struggles has heavily influenced my approach to designing womenswear. My S/S 23 collection ‘Classy Tasteism’ explores formal occasional wear from an ironic, camp angle, whilst aiming to fill gaps in the market where inclusivity lacks.
I re-worked my fathers used formal uniform into my collection, over the course of my studies I developed a love for tailoring and attention to detail. I wanted to include some military elements in my collection for a personal touch and an approach to sustainability for used Military formal uniform. My collection references military pieces from my personal heritage, re-working mess dress uniform a high-quality wool felt waist coat and brass crested buttons into my second 3D outfit.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Concept Collage
The Races Research
Period Fashion Inspiration
Royal Tailoring Inspirations
Colour Palette
Floral Prints
Pinstripe Prints
Design Development
Military Waist Coat Re-Working
Trench Coat Design Development
Line-up
3D Outfit Breakdowns
Outfit 1
Outfit 2
Outfit 3
Outfit 6
Fabrics
Photoshoot 1
DETAIL
A Skin Sensitive Formal Wear Collection
After struggling over the summer with psoriasis I found it effected the clothing I was able to wear, so I decided to design a collection aimed at women who experience skin irritation, healing, scaring, ageing skin and medical conditions whilst making women feel confident, supporting their needs at formal events and occasions. I believe in functional maximalist design, featuring adaptive solutions and unique aesthetical details. I achieve this with my use of extra soft fabrics, with natural fibres, tightly woven to avoid catching on dry skin. Prints are eco printed with non-toxic inks and silks are dyed using natural dying techniques. Carefully considered, tested and sourced according to the end users' requirements from interviews and medical research with ample toiling and prototyping for fit, wearability and comfort.
“I certainly feel that an adult woman has a right to determine what happens to her life and her body.” – Calvin Klein
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