My love for textiles began from an early age being immersed in all manner of arts and crafts. I have fond memories of my grandma teaching me to use a sewing machine during the school holidays – I can only imagine how patient she must have been with me!
I was fortunate enough to have a creatively enriching childhood, and was encouraged to build on my skills growing up. My paternal grandmother was a seamstress, and my dad recalls her creating waistcoats from scratch for a local play and the constant whir of the sewing machine in the front room. The art of sewing and creating was something that I found inspiring, and this developed my love for textiles and creating using tactile surfaces.
After a disrupted end to my A Levels in 2020, I decided to undertake the Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media at Arts University Bournemouth to rediscover the creative process and my love for creating once again. I found the course eye opening to the wider world of the creative arts and chose textiles as my specialism, as I knew the design process was the one that resonated with me the best. It was a talk from BA (Hons) Textiles leader Anne-Marie Howat during my Foundation year which encouraged me to stay at AUB for my degree. Her support, encouragement and enthusiasm were (and still are) contagious and her passion not only for textiles but for teaching is inspiring.
Personally, my creative process usually starts with being outside. It was during the pandemic I discovered the importance being outdoors has on my mental and physical wellbeing. I use these spaces as an initial source of inspiration by taking photographs and observational drawings, then developing these digitally using Photoshop and Illustrator into more developed ideas. The combination of digital and hand-rendered qualities are apparent through my physical body of work.
My final major project, entitled Outdoor Adventure, was inspired by my involvement with Scouting and Guiding, both as a child and as an adult volunteer today. I visited a local campsite to gain my initial visual inspiration and used my drawings and photographs to begin sampling with digital print, embroidery, knit and weave techniques.
During my degree, I have become more aware of the impact the textiles and fashion industry has on the environment. Therefore, even from the early stages of a project, I will source deadstock and recycled materials. For my major project in particular, I sourced deadstock workwear using reflective tapes within my practical samples.
When exhibiting my collection at New Designers in London, my material choices were of particular interest to companies visiting and I was shortlisted for the Ultra Fabrics Sustainable Design Award. The judges liked my sustainable approach and innovative design ideas using deadstock materials. I feel grateful to be given the opportunity to have exhibited at such an important event and to get recognition for my passion for sustainable design.
Alongside my degree, I have also worked part-time and volunteered with a local Brownie Unit. Doing this outside of my course has allowed me to develop different types of skills that will support me in my future career. The weekly Brownie meetings have been important for me to not get too weighed down in my course and the hour a week allows me to switch off. I enjoy supporting the young people’s creativity, whether that be sewing Christmas decorations of making Mother’s Day cards. I find the role rewarding and it inspired my creative work in my final major project.
My experience at AUB has been one of the best and I have made friends for life through my course. When I look back to myself at the start of my AUB journey, apprehensive after the disruption to my education the pandemic caused, I feel so proud of myself and my accomplishments. As a first-generation graduate in my family, I was encouraged to choose a course that would lend itself to good career prospects. I have completed three placements during my time at AUB, encouraged by the supportive teaching staff. With everything combined, I feel equipped to kick-start my career in the creative industry.
