

For SS18 I was very lucky to be selected by the British Fashion Council to showcase my new collection in the form of a Digital Presentation. The ‘Digital’ aspect of the show was to produce a short film. I found this really exciting, adding another dimension to my body of work.
Can you describe some of the key influences behind your garments?
I wanted SS18 to be a very personal collection which is close to my heart. Having been given the opportunity to showcase the film on schedule, it was the perfect chance to highlight my perception of what is beautiful outside of London. I am very proud to have grown up in an area of the UK which has a heavy industrial landscape, and the history associated with this. I was hugely inspired by the rusty colour palette of the architecture. In 2015 the Teesside blast furnace was turned off and is now only populated by security guards. The land around it is slowly being taken over with wild flowers and sea grasses adding a delicate contrast to the industrial heritage. I wanted to capture this juxtaposition in the floral prints within the collection. A pair of antique ceramic vases and some 1930’s theatrical costumes, found in the North East of England, also provided inspiration for this collection.



I wanted to play on the emotions the area provokes in people living in the area. As you can see from the garments, the area makes me feel soft and beautiful, while still being controversial to some others. One of the biggest elements in the film is Rachel; an 18 year old girl from Teesside. She brings a romance to the film whist speaking about the closure of the industry. The presentation during LFW was held at Two Temple Place, a building built by the once richest men in the world. This offers a stark contrast to the topic of the demise of The British Steelmaking Industry.
Why is it important for you to represent your heritage within this collection?
It’s such a big part of my identity, that is seems only natural that to represent it within my work.


Yes- she’s independent, social, work driven and loves the arts, as well as being chic and fun to be around.
What informed your choice of fabrics for the collection?
I always love to find that balance of femininity without becoming too ‘girlie’ in an obvious way.That’s why I use tailoring wools, as I feel it always add that edge to my aesthetic. Mixing sheers with leathers, and Chiffon with Wool is also a continuation of this.



