My passion for sustainability has largely influenced my creative process, pushing me to experiment with various natural resources such as food waste and seaweed.
My journey at Arts University Bournemouth began back in 2022 when I enrolled onto the Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media. This course allowed me to explore various exciting pathways, leading me to discover my passion for textiles. In particular, I developed a keen interest for the sustainable textiles industry.
Over the first year and half of my degree, my thirst for knowledge and understanding of new sustainable techniques has flourished with the help of course leaders and the fantastic array of resources the university has to offer. Moreover, being surrounded by such an abundance of creative, like-minded people has massively increased my enthusiasm for both my personal and professional practice.
My creative process has certainly become more refined and professional due to the experiences and opportunities I have been given at university. Having the chance to listen to guest lectures and hear about real industry experience has been a wonderful opportunity.
We have also been encouraged to go out and gain industry experience for ourselves. In the summer of 2024, I completed a six-week placement at a renowned fashion design studio in London. This gave me a chance to obtain a deeper understanding of the industry and help make informed choices on which area of the textiles world I can see myself in. The opportunity also gave me lots of drawing practice and largely improved my skill set.
A project I am particularly proud of so far in my degree is the collaboration pieces I produced alongside a small cohort of other BA (Hons) Textiles Design students at the end of our Level 4 practice. Das SPEZIAL, led by artist and producer Shahab Notghi, is a collective which strives itself on being expressive, focusing on promoting independent musicians and artists in the local area.
We were set the exciting brief of creating two customised couture items of clothing for the brand, with the end goal of them being sold at a high-end retailer in Bournemouth town centre, Richmond Classics.
The AUB Textiles X SPEZIAL collaboration was not about commercial gain, but instead focused on creativity and exposure, for both the brand and us as individual artists. This meant we had artistic liberty to express ourselves and display our creative practice freely to the public. The two garments I produced were inspired by a trip I took to Barcelona, gaining influence from the spectacular architecture and lively culture. I used techniques such as free hand machine embroidery and digital experimentation with Photoshop in order to create my final outcomes.
The whole project was marvellous, from working alongside my peers and Shahab to seeing our pieces come together and be presented in a professional context – I enjoyed every second.
I often use my surroundings as a catalyst for my work, which is why I have found walks in nature a fantastic source of inspiration. Having easy access to places such as the New Forest and the Jurassic Coast offer heaps of opportunities for me to fulfil this outlet and gain valuable primary sources. Photography is an important part of my practice and something I thoroughly enjoy. In the future, I wish to incorporate this skill further into my work.
As for the future, I am excited for an opportunity to achieve more industry experience with a self-initiated internship in London this coming summer at an interiors print design studio. I am also keen to keep my options open within my practice, making sure I make the most of the freedom and resources given at university. I wish to continue my role as a course representative as this gives me the chance to gain important insights from fellow students and communicate any questions within the faculty.
Furthermore, I hope to be selected to display my work at New Designers at the end of my third year, as this would be a fantastic opportunity to further increase my industry connections.
