Meet GFF Talent, Roisin-Eilish Harkin, a fashion design graduate from Birmingham City University. Roisin’s final year project is a collection inspired by the Netflix series The Get Down, which explores the birth of hip hop in the late 1970’s New York.
“I think the way the late 70's New York disco sense slowly over time became a booming scene of hip hop culture, is reflected in my practice of deconstructing the shoes and reconstructing them in my collection,” says Roisin. “I want people to sense joy and happiness when they look at my work.” Learn more about Roisin and her work below!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
Being placed in situation where you feel like your aren't strongly enough skilled in, has been the most valuable lesson I have taken from my university experience. It has made be realise and figure out that truly what I am capable of and what sectors I do and don't want to be involved in. Also particularly in my third year I truly experienced such rich friendships and learnt that its okay to not be able to get through everything on your own. That word of encouragement or coffee break in the middle of a 10 hour session in the studio really is the magic moments that keep you going.
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
I started my FMP research by watching the music-driven Netflix series 'The Get Down' based in the late 1970's Bronx, New York. The series explored the birth of hip hop as the disco scene every knew was slowly dying out. The exploration of hip hop through characters lives, art, music and dance groups of the youth of the Bronx's communities was the starting point of my concept research. I then went onto look at the transition of fashion within New York hip hop from the late 70s up to the 90s.
What form will your final project take?
The concept was developed and designed into a 6 look line up, which I constructed three looks for my internal university show and was lucky enough to be selected to show at graduate fashion week where I would have continued to make the remaining three looks. However due Covid-19 I am now trying to bring my vision alive cross the digital platforms.
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
I sourced all my materials locally in Birmingham at fabrics stores Barry's, Eu Fabrics and Manor side fabrics. I worked with breathable and waterproof fabrics as well as lycra's, ribbed knits, cotton drills. For all my own print developed work I out sourced from Contrado. My collection also included a lot of trims such as, herringbone tape, paracord, and eyelets these where all sourced online. I also used woven branding label and I worked with national weaving to have these made.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
Due to Covid-19, i didn't get to continue making my final line up. However I went on to develop a targeted to market product range and business Idea taking. The targeted to market collection took on a new form of looking to key muses and focusing on the waste problem within the industry but it has taken the branding graphics and key colours from my FMP collection.
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 final major collection stands as a super playful and unorthodox take of the hip hop culture from the its very birth in the late 70's up to the 90's. I think the way the late 70's New York disco sense slowly over time became a booming scene of hip hop culture, is reflected in my practice of deconstructing the shoes and reconstructing them in my collection. I want people to sense joy and happiness when they look at my work. Also after going through the making process of my university collection I witnessed and was part of huge amounts of waste materials through toiling processes, ways of constructions and even pattern cutting. As I plan to launch my own brand I have thought about what I can do to take responsibility for issues within the industry. The waste issue within the industry is something as a one women start up business I feel I can make a difference to.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
Fashion isn't sustainable, and i don't consider myself a sustainable advocate by any means and hope over the next few years to educate myself in this sector. However within my brand development I feel tackling waste is something I can do to start taking steps in the right direction. By using a pre-order system the brand will only produce the goods that are sold. Also we want to create quality over quantity meaning we can have a big push on re wearing and re purposing garments for years to come.
What is your plan once you finish your BA?
As I have touched up on in previous questions I am currently working on launching my own brand 'Dreamland'. Dreamland is a fusion of street wear cultures alongside a considered and stylish approach to sportswear for the multi-faceted person.With fashion studies and continued work creatively for 6 years I have always considered this part of my life as an escape from reality leading to the brand name Dreamland, as this brand quite literally has been my dream for years.
Dreamland is centered around the quality of the product over the quantity, with limited runs and a pre order systems we aim to run as a zero waste company by only producing the good that we sell. We will continually push to provide environmentally conscious pieces while always remaining playful and true to the brand aesthetic. We strive to offer a sense of community and friendship with every purchase made. As a brand we want to nurture the youth of the creative community through being transparent and allowing them to understand and access areas we found challenging and still find challenging in our own creative and business processes.