Rebecca Stant
Which college do you go to? Manchester School of Art. It’s very close knit, I have friends doing everything from fine art to 3-D design so there’s a lot of opportunity to collaborate. What’s your tutor like? She keeps me on my toes. She also has a canary called Mariah. What inspired your graduate collection? Ridiculous Victorian inventions, William Heath Robinson’s illustrations, model-making, the stereotypical male inventor, the idea of spectacle and the experiential nature of a catwalk show. Who are you favourite designers or brands? Martin Margiela, Comme des Garçons, Craig Lawrence. What are your plans for summer? I’m going to be working to save money to move to London in September, to do some more interning. What’s your dream job? To have my own label. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? My tutor once said “At the end of the day it’s just a f**king frock!”
Katie Tomlinson
Which college do you go to? Northumbria University. What’s your tutor like? Very friendly, approachable and helpful. What inspired your graduate collection? Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth sculptures. Using the sculptures to influence my silhouette, I have adapted traditional garments into asymmetric oversized fashion forward pieces. My Yorkshire roots have influenced my fabric choices, using a variety of wools supplied by Yorkshire mills, mixed with soft silks. Who are your favourite designers or brands? Burberry, Balenciaga, Rick Owens. What are your plans this summer? I am travelling around America for three weeks with some friends before I start looking for a job. What’s your dream job? I would love to work for Burberry. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Never give up! If something goes wrong keep trying as eventually it will work, and the outcome may be better then before.
Penelope Tucker
Which college do you go to? Kingston University. What’s your tutor like? His name is Andrew Ibi, he has been a great tutor because he is constantly pushing for more creative ideas. I think it is really healthy to constantly be challenged when designing as it creates more interesting outcomes. What inspired your graduate collection? This collection is based on gravity. I started off looking at skateboarders and the various tricks they do. To the onlooker they appear to be defying gravity. I wanted to try and design clothing that appears to be defying gravity, when in actual fact it is gravity that maintains the silhouette. Who are your favourite designers or brands? Rick Owens, Givenchy and Ann Demeulemeester. What’s your favourite thing about fashion? It applies to everyone no matter what cultural or social background. What’s your dream job? I would love to work for a company or designer that has a similar ethos to mine. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Love what you do.
Hannah Duckworth
Which college do you go to? University of Westminster. I like the fact that we can express ourselves as individuals and we’re not trained to fit into the cookie cutter fashion student mould. What’s your tutor like? He likes to push us as far as he thinks we can go, see if we break. What inspired your graduate collection? The juxtaposition between an artfully structured 3-dimensional silhouette and austere graphic shapes, explored using bonded silk neoprene, lenticular plastic and acrylic. Who are your favourite designers or brands? Céline always deliver beautifully clean collections and Rei Kawakubo’s last collection for Comme was just perfect. What’s your favourite thing about fashion? It’s the most creative form of communication – I’ve always been interested in the choices people make in terms of dressing themselves according to a statement they are trying to make to the world. What’s your dream job? Creative Director of an internationally renowned fashion house. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? ‘shy bairns get nowt’ – it’s Northern, Google it.
