Want to learn more about our GFW21 Award winners? Today, we meet Jasmin Bourne – winner of the 2021 Christopher Bailey Award. Jasmin’s collection won over the judges as a sustainability-focused exploration of heritage. Learn more about her work below!
Photography by Amin McDonald
How are you feeling about winning the Christopher Bailey Collection of the Year award?
I am still in shock, It feels incredible to even have been noticed and nominated, let alone actually won a top award.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned at university?
To never throw mistakes away, my tutor Sarah Easom would say that mistakes are “Happy accidents” that when utilised, can become incredibly worthwhile. But also collaboration too. I worked with my friend Joe Taylor, who studies Fashion Art Direction to create two wicker woven bags that featured in my collection.
Photography by Matt Clark
Photography by Matt Clark
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
I was inspired initially from an ancestry search site, where I spent hours with my friends exploring the various origins of our family names and cultural identities. We were surprised to learn how blended some of our ancestry histories was and It inspired the title, ‘Interwoven’.
What garments was your collection made up of?
I made three garments for this collection, I focused on shape and silhouette that both resembled a clash of tribal Fijian historical dress and British military.
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
I reused a lot of textile waste within my garments found on eBay and Facebook marketplace, this included scrap denim and floral printed cotton that I screen printed on.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learned along the way?
Not to be afraid of clashing print and contrasting materials. I normally prefer a more clean-cut simpler style, which was my initial intention and ideas for this collection. However Fijian culture is far more raw, earthy, vibrant and tactile than that.
If I was going to clash and demonstrate the theme of our society being beautifully “Interwoven” and blended, I felt my garments had to be representational of that. The chunky woven nature of the lighter shades of denim used in the woven coat as an example is intended to highlight the vibrancy and life found in the prints of the shirt and trousers, rather than stifle it.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away?
I have chosen to base the theme of my final year project and collection on my own blended heritage. Celebrating both British and Fijian culture exploring what makes them beautiful and unique, demonstrating how our 'British' culture is far more diverse and interwoven than I believe people think. I hope to encourage conversations about other peoples beautiful blended ancestral histories and cultural upbringings. I hope by doing this we can tarnish negative stigmatised hate towards race and cultural differences
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
Sustainability. I think we have a long way to go yet, but it is exciting that graduates like me find these issues important too. That they too are passionate about being part of changing fashion, one of the biggest polluting industries in the world.
What's your plan now and what do you hope to be doing in 5 years time?
The three looks that I made are part of an eight look collection and I would love to make more of them become a reality. I would love the opportunity for some internships so that I can get some hands-on experience developing the skills and techniques I have been taught in my degree.
My five-year plan would be to be in a position where I can design with a creative team that has sustainability at its heart.
Lastly, I owe a massive thank you to my tutors at Manchester Fashion Institute, Sarah Easom, Susan Atkin, Robin Kerr and Kiran Gobin, for the teachings and guidance you have given me over the last three years.