We caught up with Lian Poulson, a graduate from Carmarthen School of Art in South Wales to hear how her journey into the fashion industry has progressed since showcasing her work in Truman Brewery this June at GFW17.
"BEING A STUDENT AT CARMARTHEN WAS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE MADE, BEING AN ART SCHOOL, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING FINE ART, SCULPTURE, TEXTILES, GRAPHICS AND MORE - IT CONSTANTLY GIVES YOU INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE YOU GO! I'M CURRENTLY DOING A GRADUATE RESIDENCY WITHIN THE SCHOOL, WHICH MEANS I CAN USE THE EQUIPMENT AND COMPLETE PROJECTS WHICH ALL HELPS ME TO EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO SET UP MY OWN BUSINESS"
Since showing at GFW, Lian has been featured on Vogue UK and also invited to take her collection across the Atlantic to Vancouver Fashion Week. Lian is currently working on a new ready to wear collection, which will be available to buy from her website post fashion week. She has also recently won an incredible £3000 bursary enabling her to take her creative collective to Canada. Lian explained that the money would be mainly used for that, with the remainder invested in starting up her own business.
To add to Lian's incredible success in her first year in industry, she was also asked to participate in 'the young radical designer of the year competition', that aim to celebrate multi-cultural design excellence.
Lian Poulson owner of her own brand Lian Cara was brought up in the rural town of Carmarthenshire in South Wales. "I am really lucky to have been brought up in the countryside, A lot of this inspires my work". Lian explained that the natural textures and shapes that she found in the welsh landscapes is where she took her main inspiration from. "In my graduate collection, I have contrasted the natural textures with architectural influences. I used arches and shapes to inform the silhouette and structure of the garments but wanted to maintain a sense of fluidity and movement that is found in the welsh countryside."
We asked Lian about her style of working, and she tends to create pattern through the construction of a garment rather than printing, Lian told us that this began during her Foundation Degree which is she also studied at Carmarthen School of Art for. She told us that she has always been interested in the fabric and how it can be manipulated, and during her foundation she was fascinated with how much you can change fabric, and despite this being a factor Lian has continued with since, she is unsure what her next collection will hold.
"IF I COULD GIVE GRADUATES WANTING TO SHOWCASE SOME ADVICE IT WOULD BE BE CONFIDENT AND BOLD! BE SURE TO TALK TO EVERYONE AND BE CONFIDENT IN APPROACHING PEOPLE WITH YOUR WORK. DON'T ALWAYS WAIT AROUND FOR PEOPLE TO COME UP TO YOU, GO AND FIND PEOPLE AND BRING THEM TO YOUR WORK."
In 10 years time Lian would like to be selling her own designs online and in a boutique. "The dream is to have a store with a boutique on one side showcasing the work of designers all over the UK, and on the other, a workshop where people can see garments being made."
We wish Lian all the best for her future in the industry and lots of luck with Vancouver Fashion Week and The young radical designer of the year competition and look forward to hearing about her next adventures.
Words by Amber Whitaker
Photography by Lasar Photografix (Via Lian Cara Website)