Meet GFF Talent, Sundas Javed, a fashion design graduate from the University of Central Lancashire. Her final major project honours her late brother, who passed away as a child from a rare genetic illness. Sundas’ 6 piece menswear collection called Men’s Lacerated Denim takes denim, linen and wool, distressing these fabrics to symbolise deterioration. Read more about her work below.
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
Throughout my years at UCLan, at the start, I would always compare myself to other students, which always made me doubt my skills and qualities as a designer. I have always been afraid to step out of my comfort zone. With the difficulties of Covid-19, and creating my collection from home. I managed to push myself to the best of my abilities, and I focussed on what I wanted to create.I have learnt to make the most of EVERYTHING! Use your time wisely, make the most of your tutor's advice and the resources that the university provides you! Skills such as pattern cutting, CAD design, trend research etc is all something I had no idea about before starting university and it has changed my life! For the past 4 years, I have learnt so much but most of all is not to be afraid to show your skills and to believe in yourself!
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
The starting point of my collection has purely been inspired by my own personal experience and by someone who has been a huge influence in my life. My late baby brother, Ahmed. In 2013, my family and I lost my brother at the age of 7, to a rare genetic illness called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy or M.L.D for short. The illness causes deterioration of the nerves which made my brother lose his abilities and his senses, which eventually made him disabled. M.L.D is a rare illness that not many people know about, I wanted to use my collection to raise awareness to show the difficulties a person has in that condition. I wanted to show the stages of deterioration through the art of fashion, telling a story. Seeing it from my brother's point of view. My brother's deterioration throughout his life has made me feel grateful as he was not able to live his dream or pursue his career, so I decided to do that for him. To also honour him as well as raise awareness.
What form will your collection take?
I will create a 2 piece menswear collection of garments (6 pieces in a digital lineup) representing the deterioration and showing the loss of his abilities through the use of sustainable materials such as denim, wool and linen, but in a contemporary fashion.
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
My initial idea was to use old denim materials from a charity shop but due to Covid-19. I used organic denim and wool/linen mixed material. I wanted to research into which fabrics would distress and fray the most. As well as my own digital prints printed on organic fabrics.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
Ideally, I wanted to use the use of old nursing scrubs combined with denim, however, I felt that the scrubs did not distress as well and due to Covid-19 it was difficult to get them. I had begun with doing womenswear but my research began to look more like menswear, therefore I decided to create a menswear collection. With menswear, I had to be very careful on how to create garments that would fit into my concept but give a contemporary outlook and really thinking about where I would apply certain textile techniques on the garments.
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?
Not only to just raise awareness for people diagnosed with MLD but a representation of those people who have lost their abilities through any illness, whether it is some form of cancer or genetic illness. Just showing how difficult it is for those people who are struggling every day or the families who are doing all they can to help them. I believe people who have these sicknesses and are fighting every day, make them much stronger than people think they are. When my brother was diagnosed we were told he would only make it till the age of 5, yet he pulled through to almost 8 years old!
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
When it comes to sustainability, I try to do the best that I can to make the most of all fabric. I am often given bags and bags full of old fabric that I then use to create my own garments. Recently I have been seeing so many children and people all over the world struggling with having clothes on their back and I wish to create some clothing and donate them using these old fabrics. It doesn't cost a penny and especially during a pandemic I think it is important for us to all work together and help each other. I am lucky to be blessed with so much yet some people are not as fortunate as me, so I would like to give to people who do not have anything.
What is your plan once you finish your BA?
My plan after my BA is to either get a job with a fashion company, either as a junior designer or a stylist. Or eventually, start my own online business selling my designs hopefully making it worldwide!