One of the fashion industry greats, British Designer Vivienne was a passionate supporter of young emerging graduate talent and regularly attended Graduate Fashion Week in her role as Patron, alongside the team from her eponymous label.
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BAME Showcase
Meet Natalie Vest-Jones, a Fashion Styling and Creative Direction graduate from Solent University. Lets see where she is now, two years on from her first interview with us!
Meet GFF Talent, Danish Rizal, a final year student at Management and Science University Malaysia. Danish’s final major project is focused around recent sporting events in Malaysia. “I became involved as the chanters' leader for the Malaysian Team and throughout my time there, I was intrigued by the largest stadium in my country's architectural designs” says Danish. Read all about it below!
Meet GFF Talent, Jinwon Park, a final year student at Nottingham Trent University. Jinwon’s final major project is focused around race, nationality and language. “I lived in a situation where I was a majority. Now I have become a minority. I have realised that there is a massive gap between living as the majority and the minority throughout my life” says Jinwon. Read all about it below!
Meet GFF Talent, Renu Sigar, a final year student at Nottingham Trent University. Renu’s final major project is focused around reducing waste without sacrificing the art of the garments. “Even before my final inspiration came through, I knew that I wanted to significantly cut down on fabric scraps when I'm actually making my final garments.” says Renu. Read all about it below!
Meet GFF Talent, Shivangi Agiwal, a Fashion Communication student at Northumbria University. She was inspired to explore her identity as a South Asian woman through her final project, a magazine called Kali. “Kali takes the form of a printed magazine, exploring the quintessence of womanhood and the many contradictions that come with it. It investigates many an issue faced by women, specifically South Asian women like me, visualised through editorial inspired photography and styling,” Shivangi says.
Meet Charnice Blaize, a 2018 Fashion Business and Promotion graduate from Birmingham City University. Charnice talks to Graduate Fashion Foundation about her work growing her company and digital platform and agency, The Blaized Agency.
Meet Krishma Sabbarwal, a 2018 fashion textiles graduate from East London University. Krishma talks to Graduate Fashion Foundation about her work developement since graduating in 2018 and how she continues to be inspired by exploring culture, immigration and sustainabilty within her brand.
Meet Jasmine Kaur Kaila, a fashion design graduate from De Montfort University. Jasmine is exploring her heritage through traditional Sikh crafts, creating a collection inspired by stories of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh. “I wanted to bring back these crafts for contemporary Sikhs like myself and renown them,” says Jasmine. “I came across so many interesting facts, one being that the dye indigo is a Latin word for 'from India'. A dye that is used predominantly in denim, a fabric now associated to be Western however its true origins lie in India.”
Meet GFF Talent, Deborah Odubanjo, a fashion design graduate from University for the Creative Arts. Deborah’s final year collection is inspired by her family moving to the UK from Nigeria in the 1980s, mixing traditional and modern prints together. “I’m inspired by strong bold silhouettes from traditional Nigerian garments and British tailoring that are interpreted through the way fabric is held and pulled in African culture,” says Deborah. “The collection stems from the journey of my dad being born in England, moving back to Nigeria and then coming back in the 1980’s.”
Meet GFF Talent, JiYoon Kyung, a graduate of University for the Creative Arts. JiYoon has launched her own brand, JAEJU which blends traditional Korean craftsmanship with forward-thinking ethical and sustainable design. “JAEJU is inspired by Korean history, especially in traditional colour schemes and techniques of clothing,” she says. “The vision of this brand is to preserve and bring forth aspects of Korean tradition and introduce them to today’s everyday fashion in ethical ways.”
Meet GFF Talent, Tamika Nembhard Martin, a fashion and textiles graduate from University of Portsmouth. Tamika’s collection is a unisex exploration of black history through the ages. She has brought together elements of black culture across generations to educate and inform. “The purpose is to enlighten the uneducated on the history of culture they are none the wiser to. Pieced together the collection translates the story of black oppression throughout history told in a way never seen before,” she says.
Meet Raydian Chew, a fashion design graduate from Middlesex University. Raydian’s collection is inspired by Malaysian kites called wau, which each have their own meanings and symbols and are a traditional past time of labourers in Malaysia which is dying out. “My collection revolves around the concept of wau, dissecting the ideology of the Malaysian kite, making its intricate motifs and bringing elements with emphasis in contemporary designs,” says Raydian.
Meet Tamera Francis, a fashion textiles graduate from Middlesex University. Tamera’s graduate collection is inspired by her mother and aunts making their clothing at home before going out dancing. The clothes were made quickly and creatively, often falling apart on the dancefloor. Tamera’s knitwear design explores this through dropped lace holes, laddering, experimenting with yarns such as elastics and viscose. She wants to bring more fun to fashion design as well as continue celebrating and exploring her culture through fashion.
Meet Natasha Solanki, a former Manchester Metropolitan university graduate who finished university in 2019. She is now working for a fashion supplier as a junior fashion designer and developer, does freelance design work on the side and is also launching her own brand! She plans to take her graduate collection and design it into a more commercial offering, while keeping sustainability in mind through every aspect of her young business.
Meet Kyra Clarke-Campbell, a fashion styling and creative direction graduate from Southampton Solent University. Kyra’s final year project is a photo book called Uncover(ed) where she has shot a series of subjects that examines culture, fashion trends, personal style and more. “My main message was to be comfortable in you own skin and your sense of style,” she says. “Not having to dress 'down' for anymore or not having the right look for a work place. As a creative i think you should be free to experiment with looks and different styles.”
Meet Adora Lutu, a fashion design and textiles graduate from the University of Portsmouth. Adora’s final year project is a collection called MVMNT, a unisex sportswear offering inspired by Adora’s interest in politics. She explores knife crime, blending streetwear influences from around the world into one collection. Read more about Adora and her work below.
Meet Alarna Foster, a first year student studying Fashion Branding and Communication at Birmingham City University. Alarna’s most recent project was to create a campaign for a brand of her choice, with a focus on communicating a narrative using creative direction and visual literacy. She chose Pyer Moss, the New York based label by designer Kerby Jea- Raymond. Alarna has been influenced by the current social climate, including the Black Lives Matter Movement, COVID-19 pandemic and other cultural issues she feels passionately about.
Meet Sayf Taj, who graduated from Manchester School of Art in 2019 with a BA in fashion art direction. Sayf was a runner up for the Fashion Publication Award at Graduate Fashion Week 2019 for his work celebrating the Queer South Asian he is a member of. Meeting members of the community around the UK inspired Sayf’s final year project “Discreet” as he creative directed, styled and even photographed his subjects.
Meet Yumnah Khan, a fashion design graduate of Birmingham City Univeristy. Yumnah’s final collection is a menswear offering that explores the duality of nature and industrialism, called All Traces of Man. Blending traditional tailoring with sportswear, Yumnah’s collection features knitwear, prints and corrugated fabrics.