Meet Ffion Bronwyn McCormick-Edwards, a fashion graduate from Arts University Bournemouth. Ffion was inspired by her parents, their love of water skiing and their unique wedding photos to create this accessories collection. The ten piece collection includes from wallets, small phone bags to backpacks and weekend bags out of reclaimed neoprene and old zips from wetsuits. Read more about her work below!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
The most valuable things that I have learnt at university is independence, self-expression and to never turn down free (also safe) food or drink. Moving away from home and starting a new chapter in education was a scary thing...3 year later it's the opposite, I barley want to come home. Being at university taught me how to cook, clean, socialise and truly understand my own wellbeing.
Majority of our studies are independent, meaning you have to source the information yourself. Forcing me to make my own decisions, some right and many wrong but i always enjoyed the learning process, knowing I made that choice in the first place. I also learnt that self-expression is so important, especially through fashion. I always want my work to speak for who I am as a creative, being at university taught me how to do this.
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
My parents met in 1979 at Llangors lake in Brecon, Wales. They both shared the passion of water sports, specifically Water skiing. My father had water ski'd since the age of 8 and my mother from 12. In 1994 they got married and had the most cringeworthy wedding ever known to man. That’s what kick started the inspiration for my final project. Their wedding photos are one of a kind, i'd never seen a wedding like this before, I felt an instant connection with the images, people needed to see this. Overall the wedding, combined with my family's deep passion for water skiing and all the years i had grown up on the lake became the Final Major Project: Life after Lake
What form will your final project take?
My project is an Accessory collection. It will take the form of products, designed and manufactured by myself. It will be a 10 piece accessory range, from wallets, small phone bags to backpacks and weekend bags. The accessory collection will be both fashionable and function-able, targeted towards travel. Some of my products have touch screen elements for a phone/iPad or laptop. This makes the bag and electronics inside scannable at airports, instead of having to remove your electronics from inside. Smaller bags include many pockets, ideally for passports or boarding passes. Some of the accessories also come with styling options for the consumer, with different buckles to offer a roll down or flat top. Back pack straps hidden in zip compartments to be used if chosen too.
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
Majority of my materials are reclaimed and reused. With my parents long history of water skiing they had collected many wetsuits, life jackets, shoes, gloves, bands and more from the late 90's to early 2000's. All the materials are predominantly out dated neoprene and polyester, this instantly pursued the collection to become accessory based. I also recycled all the available zips from the wetsuits I had, luckily these were good quality, durable YKK zips.
I also used off cuts from denim we had at university, I dyed them to create a vintage contrast to the bright neoprene available. The denim also complimented the collection very well. Having majority of my materials already sourced it was important to me to use every aspect available from each item. Using a FoxSports life jacket from 2003 that was in very good condition, I re used a YKK zip and filled in the arm holes with functional pockets and added back pack straps to make it a functional accessory pice with originality. Each accessory piece was made with durability in mind, making it overall a high quality range.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
Initially right at the very beginning of third year, this collection was going to be a garment/6 outfit range. After realising the volume of material i had; and the nature of these fabrics, it was more suitable as an accessory range. Being in my final year at university, this was the first time I had ever done accessories. I had never made a bag before. This was the most challenging part, I struggled a lot at first with many ups and downs, I wasn't quite getting the make or order of construction right.
After a rough time I had a huge turn around, with hours of practise, un picking and analysing(plus a lot of tutor help) I has able to get my make process to a high level. This then evolved my ideas into a practical form and industry standard. I have learnt so much about accessory construction and the order of assembly, the different methods machinery carry out and how different fabrics react to manipulation. Throughout my 3 years at AUB i am very fortunate to have excelled in Womenswear, menswear and now accessories, broadening my knowledge.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away? Do explore any topics like diversity, sustainability or politics in your work?
My work is all about up-cycling, reclaiming and reusing. Inspired from my parents cringeworthy wedding, shared passion for waterskiing and large stock of vintage, unwanted wetsuits & life jackets sparked the collection LIFE AFTER LAKE. My message is that you can literally re create something so cool and unique from the materials you have around you. Why throw it out and add to the pollution? Why not make it original and give it another life? My project really thrives from giving materials another chance at life.
Neoprene is a well known material for its appearance in landfills, by repurposing the material into a functional accessory, using a zero waste approach, my work ethic approaches a sustainable sector in fashion. The main message behind my project is that up-cycling is cool. It is unique. It's the new modern and everyone can do it. Don't be afraid, instead of throwing out, cut up an old pair of jeans and add a long necklace chain to it and make a bag. Guarantee no one else in the world will have that exact bag. Make a difference.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
I am super passionate about the future of digital fashion. As time moves on, so does technology. Our era revolves around a social religion; constantly checking Instagram, youtube influencers and celebrity collaborations, they have a big impact on the fashion culture and what we wear and see everyday. By having a digital platform for fashion as a whole wether this be; virtual catwalks, 3D prototyping or an online shopping experience. It will have a big impact within the fashion system. when I first heard about digital fashion, buying clothes from an online avatar, I thought it sounded mental, but there’s no doubt that digital clothing is set to change the game and hopefully work towards eliminating disposable fashion for good. Theres a long and interesting way to go with this topic, but i am excited and passionate about where it will go.
What is your plan once you finish your BA?
Once I finish my BA and this pandemic simmer's down (fingers crossed). I hope to expand my fashion knowledge across sea's in either Europe or America, working within the product/accessory field of fashion. I would like to work in a digital format possibly social media advertising, campaigning, PR, photography. All which 3 years in and outside of university has given me the skills and experience. After creating content for my own online reclaim business, i feel i endured the ability to offer my creative eye to the fashion industry.