Young designers showcase innovative collections in The Glasgow School of Art’s 2016 Fashion Show
Designs from the collections by Textile Design (print) student, Erin McQuarrie
and Textile Design (weave) student, Meg Ramsay
Designs from the collection by Textile Design (embroidery) student, Kevin Clearly
Designs from the collections by Textile Design (knit) student, Roseanne Jack,
and Fashion Design student Zac Woods
Young designers from across the world unveiled collections at 2016 Fashion Show in The Art School (the GSA Student Union) last night, 1 March 2016. Featuring 47 students on the Fashion Design and Textile Design programmes at the world famous Glasgow School of Art, Fashion Show 2016 gave the first view of work by a new generation of design talent including Kate Connell and Roseanne Jack, who are among only three UK students to make the international shortlist for the 2016 Bemz Award.
Challenged with creating looks exploring the theme of Geometrythe designers took inspiration from a wide range of sources.
Eight Year 3 Fashion Design students unveiled collections showcasing their expertise in garment design and construction interpreting the “geometric” theme through silhouette, structure and fabric draping techniques. In their contrasting looks Franz Maggs and Joanne Mearns respectively looked back to 1970s geometric and floral pattern and László Moholy-Nagy’s light paintings. Fellow students Evangeline Allfrey and Angela Hill (See Chan) both looked to the East for their inspiration with Evangeline translating the Japanese aesthetic concept of Wabi – Sabi into her looks and See Chan reinterpreting origami forms.
Year 3 Textiles designers from four different specialisms – embroidery, knit, print and weave –exploited the particular features of the different media creating structural and surface decorated fabrics suitable for the fashion context.
Embroidery specialists tapped into sources ranging from the stark black and white geometric shapes of 1960s to Brutalist architecture, the Russian Avant Garde and discarded packaging. Meanwhile, architecture was a theme running though the collections by the Knitwear designers, from Italian and Japanese buildings to sliceforms, window frames, cages and barriers.
The shapes of snow covered mountains and tennis courts, Aboriginal design, traditional Japanese painting and Russian Constructivism were among the influences seen in the print designers’ collections. Weave specialists meanwhile took inspiration from circuit boards and electronic control panels and New York city Architecture among other sources.
“Our students are encouraged to challenge the sameness of mass manufactured, globalised fashion and create something new,’ says GSA Head of Fashion and Textiles, Jimmy Stephen-Cran. “Taking the annual theme they are given the freedom to interpret it in ways that express their individuality as designers and demonstrate the particular skills they have acquired during their studies.”
“However, Fashion Show is more than just creating a series of looks,” he adds.“It reflects the broader aspects of life as a designer with the students taking on all elements of the event organisation.”
For full details of the designers and collections see Notes for Editors
The Year 3 showcase was preceded by selected designs by ten Year 2 Fashion Design students.
Fashion Show 2016 was once again made possible by the generous support of headline sponsors. Mandors– with whom the GSA’s Fashion and Textiles department has enjoyed a longstanding association; Buchanan Galleries, which last year agreed a three year sponsorship of GSA’s fashion shows; Dr Marten’s Glasgow– which has sponsored Fashion Show since 2013, and Fat BuddhaStore Glasgow which continues its support for Fashion Show following last year’s inaugural sponsorship.
Kathy Murdoch, Centre Manager at Buchanan Galleries, said: “As one of the go-to stops for fashion in Glasgow, we wanted to support the next generation of fashion talent, especially when it’s right on our doorstep.
“Self-expression and creativity are part of Dr. Martens corevalues,” says Emily Hall, UK Retail Marketing Manager, Airwair International Limited (Dr. Martens). “As a brand we stand for supporting the nextgeneration of designer.”
“Fat Buddha Store is delighted to be part of the annual Glasgow School of Art Fashion Show again, our sponsorship proved a great success last year.”
As in past years Fashion Show was entirely organised by the students working collaboratively, with small groups each taking responsibility for running and management of an aspect of the show.
As well as showcasing the work of Year 2 and Year 3 students, Fashion Show was also an important fundraiser. All proceeds from the show will help support the current cohort of Year 3 students to showcase their graduate collections in London in 2017.
Ends
Lesley Booth
GSA Press and Media
0779 941 4474
Notes for Editors
3rd Year Fashion Design and Textiles Design Collections
FASHION
Hannah Tan, Belfast, Ireland
Based on journeys taken throughout Glasgow, using the mundane to influence fabrication and colour, with the everyday hardworking Glaswegian builder influencing silhouette and style lines.
Jamie Murdoch, Glasgow
I have designed a collection that aims to strike harmony between concepts of utility and comfort.
Franz Maggs
For my collection I have drawn inspiration from the geometric and floral shapes in 1970s textiles and interiors and mixed them with iconic 70s fashion silhouettes.
Evangeline Allfrey, Shoreham-By-Sea
I have taken as my inspiration the Japanese aesthetic concept of Wabi - Sabi, which is centered upon the idea of reflection and simplicity. Exploring the idea of visual reflection, such as in water or glass, and the affect this has on shape and form has inspired this project. As a result my collection will channel this idea through reflective pattern cutting, the simplicity and beauty of sheer fabric and the idea of geometric balance.
Angela Hill See Chan, Beijing
Given the theme of Geometry, the collection incorporates geometric angular forms of paper/ origami folds in the designs. Heavy weight waterproof fabrics are used in order to generate the solidity and boldness of the garment’s silhouette. The style of this collection is relatively sporty. The combination of the waterproof material and the sporty style would provide efficient functional purposes.
Aymie Black, Greenock
Inspired by geometric forms of nature, such as rocks. I chose a colour palette of mixed greys with a contrasting pink fur.
Joanne Mearns, Inverness
My collection was inspired by László Moholy-Nagy series of 'light paintings' and classic garments such as the trench coat. With a strong focus on the placement of lines, layering and the combination mixing tradition of traditional cotton fabrics and transparent plastics.
Sgàire Wood, Bangor, Ireland
In this collection I wanted to explore and deconstruct generally held concepts of femininity and convey opulence in a heavy-handed manner through volume, construction and materials. It is also an exploration of my own identity with regards to gender, nationality and socio-economic situation.
TEXTILES (EMBROIDERY)
Matilda Davison, Norfolk, England
Within this project I have worked with leather and PVC and cut all my work by hand.
Stuart Bland, Glasgow, Scotland
My collection is inspired by the linear brutalist architecture found across Glasgow while also looking at the warped reflections of contemporary glass architecture
Laura Herdman, East Kilbride, Scotland
My collection has been influenced heavily by the 60s and the geometric, black and white shapes it made popular. I have taken a spin on this and introduced the 90s. Through development I came up with my collection "Cape Swag"
Sophie Chen, Glasgow, Scotland
The starting point for my research comes from Russian Avant-Garde movement ‘Suprematism’. The four elements I have focused on are; colour, space, shape and rhythm. I experimented with collage, layering and folding to create a 3D interpretation of my drawings, which I have translated through embroidery techniques. I have designed a collection of both women’s and menswear garments that incorporate colour embellishments and applique embroidery on the pleated and cut-split garments.
Kevin Cleary, Ayrshire, Scotland
My collection is inspired by discarded packaging and other materials associated with waste. I have focused on contrasting / fusing materials together – which has allowed me to work with a broad range of manipulation / traditional practices associated with embroidered textiles at GSA. I have intended my designs for the womenswear market
Zoe McCluskey, Edinburgh, Scotland
I love working with eclectic materials and bold colours. By taking inspiration from Postmodernist design, my collection explores the idea of geometry through shapes, repeated patterns and lines worn around the body.
TEXTILES (KNIT)
Jessica Nina Butler, Leeds, England
For this project I was inspired by moving shadows in sculpture and the depth shadow can bring to lines and geometric compositions. This has transpired into my knitwear by combining chevron and a bonding technique to achieve this double line effect.
Natascia Forte, Italy
My collection is inspired by the colourful buildings and architecture found in my hometown Pescara in central Italy. The bold and vibrant colours are one of the unifying themes in my collection with each colour representing an individual technique within the knitted discipline.
Clara Mullen, Glasgow, Scotland
Taking inspiration from modern Japanese architecture and street scenes I have focused on producing fabrics in bold shapes and textured yarns.
Beth Furini, Brighton, England
I have looked at how we learn about shapes taking inspiration from building blocks and sliceforms. Translating the 3d structures of my research.
Marie Foy, Motherwell, Scotland
Inspired by the geometric grid shapes in windows, my collection focuses on the sheer nature of the glass panes with the sharp lines in the textiles representing the window frames. The contrast of cottons I have used also references the nature of the windows, with the top layer representing the shiny element of the glass and the base having a more matte finish for the surrounding building textures.
Cath Sinclair, Edinburgh, Scotland
This collection is inspired by the contradictory elements of cages and barriers, security and isolation together with the vulnerability of imprisonment. The choice of colours and yarns used further exemplifies this paradox.
Nancy Tulley, Brighton, England
My collection is based upon the structure and texture within architecture. Collages informed the fabric design and garment construction of my garments.
Chantal McLeish, Barcelona
Geometry - looking at the gridded walls and garages with interlacing strips, using a variation of chunky and thin yarn.
Roseanne Jack, Fife, Scotland
My fashion show collection was inspired by the geometric shapes of the snow covered French Alpes. My colour pallet is strong and fresh which I’m hoping will be eye catching on the runway.
TEXTILES (PRINT)
Kate Connell, Bristol, England
My collection is based on a series of photos I took of tennis courts. I explored this by creating and combining textures and geometric repeat prints.
Ellie Smith, Ilkley, England
This Aboriginal inspired collection is a collage of various prints to create one off, unique, bold coats.
Eilidh Mcleod, West Lothian, Scotland
My printed dress collection has taken inspiration from city architecture and reflection, which is a common theme throughout my other work. The colour palette I chose to work with has an almost dream-like quality. I also enjoyed experimenting with the layers, and playing with the overlapping of colours to make new ones.
Anna Campbell, Glasgow, Scotland
I focused on the geometrical elements in different types of street signage, which carry a universal meaning. The art movement called ‘Constructivism’- created by the Russian avant-garde- was a vital part of inspiration to my collection. Constructivist art is idealized as complete abstraction with a devotion to modernity, the form of my designs are dictated through this idealization.
Ting Wang, China
Based on the theme of Geometry, exploring it through the requirement of printed repeat pattern, and also self discover of ‘accidental’ ‘experimental’ printed effect.
Becky Moore, Kilmarnock, Scotland
My concept was to look at geometry in everyday objects. I collected and set up my own still life compositions, which became the basis of my printed fabrics and also informed the shape and structure of my garments.
Erin McQuarrie, Glasgow, Scotland
The story behind my collection is heavily inspired by a recent exchange in spent Tokyo. I focused on hand painting, bonding and stitch work techniques within my collection and used traditional Japanese ceremonial and work wear as inspiration for my silhouettes.
Poppy Tuckley, London, England
My collection is inspired by typography and colours found in Thai advertising and newspapers.
Emma Boyd-Madsen, Edinburgh, Scotland
My fashion show collection was inspired by visual sound, sound waves and patterns in music. It combines different knotting, knitted techniques including macrame in different scales with textural, wavy knit techniques and small pops of colour.
TEXTILES (WEAVE)
Megan Ramsay, Sunderland, England
My inspirations for this project were circuit boards and electronic control panels. I wanted to translate the grid structures with the loose wires into my weave. I used different types of yarn and materials; such as wires and plastic to portray my own ‘circuit board’ within my woven textile. My final garments represent panels of ‘controlled mess’.
Kate Hunter, Edinburgh, Scotland
Based on the diverse variety of forms that make up the human body. My aim was to experiment with the possibilities of padded double cloth and 3D Weaving.
Nicole Watson, Shotts, Scotland
The inspiration for my project was Architecture; linking to the geometric concept. I used primary images taken from a trip in New York, and was really drawn into the different compositions of the buildings, and how both deconstruction and solid altitudes could exist together. Building upon my garment samples I wanted to incorporate these structures into my weave, by using hand manipulated techniques to create a sense of layering and emphasise the structure of grids and lines.
Eilidh Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
Showing the difference between matt and shinny for this project. Using different texture yarns to get different effects on my garments.
Monica Stevenson, Dumbarton, Scotland
My collection is all about colour. Inspired by the lively colour sequences seen in tiles I have photographed throughout my summer travels. I want to create colour statement designs that are fun and bold.