New Kids On The Block.

Meet Three Fashion Grads From The University of Portsmouth’s Class of 2022.

Interview with University of Portsmouth students, by Emma Golley

06.24.2022

Can you believe Summer is already here?! Sunny days, drinks in the park, upcoming vacays and what may seem like the end of an era for fashion grads who showcased their final collections this month. That grueling final year is now behind them, the excitement of Graduate Fashion Week UK is still in the air and graduation day is fast approaching. For anyone outside of the UK that isn’t familiar with the event, Graduate Fashion Week is held every year in London and it’s a wonderful chance for fashion grads to exhibit their work whether it’s on the catwalk or at their University’s stand. It’s also a great opportunity for prospective new students to look at which Universities they may want to apply for, and for industry professionals to scout new talent. In addition to this, many Universities host their own graduate shows for their students to display their work.

It’s been a busy few weeks for fashion grads, but amongst the chaos, three Fashion and Textile graduates from The University of Portsmouth took the time to chat to me about their final year collections and hopes for the future. With nature, the environment and societal issues on their minds, it’s clear these ‘new kids on the block’ can teach the fashion industry a thing or two…

**Daisy Sinden**

**University**: University of Portsmouth
**Course:** BA Fashion and Textile Design
**Where are you from and where did you grow up?**
I’m from Bedfordshire UK, not far from London so I was so excited to go to Uni in Portsmouth and be by the sea!
**Describe your design style/ aesthetic:**
My style is definitely inspired by nature, almost all of my designs feature some kind of floral inspiration. I love all things floaty, feminine and colourful too, and I try to play around with these concepts to make something beautiful and unusual.
**Tell us about your final collection and inspiration behind it:**
My collection is called REWILD, and it aims to showcase the vital and beautiful results of UK rewilding initiatives through intricate and considered fashion and textile design. I was inspired to create this collection by my own experience growing up surrounded by nature, and a passion that not enough is being done to protect these precious landscapes.
**What aspect did you most enjoy about the graduate collection process?**
Definitely having the creative freedom to design the collection I want from start to finish, I love sewing and pattern cutting so the process of getting the garment shapes and finishes as I'd envisioned is always my favourite bit!
**Did you do any fashion internships during your time at University, if so where?**
I did some freelance pattern cutting and seamstress work for a few small brands- including Dani Hackett London, creating a collection of corsets and skirts which were then sold at a pop up in Camden which was amazing! I also worked part time as a Production and Studio Assistant at By Megan Crosby, where I learned so much about small brands and was part of an amazing team. I definitely recommend getting some work experience alongside your degree as it’s given me so many skills for my graduate job search!
**What are your hopes and goals for after you graduate?**
I would love to work in pattern cutting or garment construction, as I love the technical side of fashion design, bringing a garment from a drawing to real life. I’m also hoping to work in London, as I love the atmosphere and it would be amazing to work in such a creative environment.
**If you could pass on any advice to future fashion students, what would it be?**
Do what you love!! Take your final collection as an opportunity to truly express yourself and create something you love and are really proud of. Being authentic is what’s going to stand you apart when you graduate, and working on a project you’re really interested in is going to make it 100x more fun.
**Where can our readers see your designs?**
You can see my work on Instagram @daisymaykes_ ! It’s also on my GFW profile, which is at this link: https://www.graduatefashionweek.com/search-portfolios/daisy-sinden , and my work has also been featured in Drapers and Beautica Magazines June 2022 issues!

Models: Megan Hulacka & Beth Strickland | @Meganhulacka | @Stricklandoriginals
Photographer: Marie Barakova @barakova_portfolio

**Renade Lewis-Perkins**

**Name:** Renade Lewis-Perkins
**University:** University of Portsmouth
**Course:** Fashion and Textile Design BA (Hons)
**Where are you from and where did you grow up?**
My family are from Grenada and Guyana in the Caribbean. I have been brought up in Reading , England.
**Describe your design style/aesthetic:**
My design style is very vibrant and abstract, incorporating many textile techniques to make it eye-catching.
**Tell us about your final graduate collection and the inspiration behind it:**
This collection highlights the societal issues which exist due to anti-black racism. My goal is to raise awareness of the current challenges faced by the black community, such as racial profiling and targeting. My collection is streetwear. The textile design includes George Floyd’s face and powerful “Justice” and “Peace” typography, to call for the changes needed.
**What aspect did you most enjoy about the graduate collection process?**
I enjoyed including my thoughts and rights into my collection as this made it more personal to me. Using my creativity from digital work to the physical designs made me proud to see the final outcome.

Did you do any fashion internships during your time at University, if so where?

No I didn't have the opportunity to do this however during lockdown I decided to start a small business making hair bonnets and hair scrunchies.

What are your hopes and goals for after you graduate?

My goal is to continue doing what I love and enjoy which is textile design and up - cycling. I would like to find a graduate job and hopefully one day have my own business.

If you could pass on any advice to future fashion students, what would it be?

Always believe in yourself, follow your dreams and remember everyone has their own opinion, so be confident within yourself and your work.

Where can our readers see your designs?

All of my designs are showcased on my instagram which is @rens_fashion_

Models: Nathan Hill and Deniola Sanni
Photographer: Liam Jackson

**Freya Driscoll**

**Name:** Freya Driscoll
**University:** University of Portsmouth
**Course:** BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles Design
**Where are you from and where did you grow up?**
I am from Bromley which is in South East London and I have grown up there my whole life.
**Have you done an internship? If so where?**
Unfortunately, due to covid, I was unable to secure any internships during my time at university, but at the beginning of the pandemic, I spent my time making and selling face masks, where a portion of each sale went to charity.
**Describe your design style/aesthetic:**
My design aesthetic is heavily influenced by current streetwear styles, I love oversized pieces and contrasting them with more fitted pieces. I pick colours to enhance the patterns I design and to compliment my unconventional construction techniques, with patchworking being one of my favourites.
My design style has evolved to be sustainable through upcycling, and spark important conversations too, through using graphic motifs for my patterns. I reflect this graphic style in my fashion illustrations and garment flats too.
**Tell us about your final graduate collection an the inspiration behind it:**
My final collection “That’s Not Very Lady Like” is a thought-provoking, upcycled collection that takes traditional menswear garments and silhouettes and transforms them into womenswear pieces. They celebrate the female body through bold prints and flattering streetwear shapes. The aim of my collection is to encourage more equality between the sexes and eliminate the taboo that surrounds the female body and its portrayal in society. I used muted tones of blue and pink in this collection, playing on the stereotypes of “gender”, and combined them with a muted lilac, as well as a contrasting vibrant orange to brighten the garments for Spring/Summer 23. These colours are incorporated into my graphic prints, which feature the female anatomy of breasts and vulvas prominently across the six looks.
Screen printed motifs and vinyl create bold statements, alongside embroidered patches that demonstrate the sporty style of my collection. The collection is heavily influenced by streetwear, which for a long time was considered a menswear strain of fashion, my collection challenges that to be made for the female body. I juxtaposed large oversized jackets and trousers, with tight-fitted bralettes and bodysuits, to flatter the female shape, and emphasise this as a womenswear collection.

What aspect did you most enjoy about the graduate collection process?

I loved the construction part of the graduate collection process, watching the designs I had drawn at the start of the year finally come to life was really exciting. I love being hands-on in the process so getting to use all of the print methods of screen printing, vinyl, embroidery and dye sublimation to add surface design to my fabrics was really exciting. Also perfecting my patterns during the toiling process and getting to sew with fabrics I hadn’t used before was a challenge but also a great learning experience. The final outcome of having wearable garments to wear and promote is really rewarding.

What are your hopes and goals for after you graduate?

After I graduate, I hope to get an entry-level role in either a design position or a garment tech position within the industry at either an independent studio or a big brand. I’d love to continue to learn new skills and develop the ones I already have, to then in the future feel confident to set up my own business.

If you could pass on any advice to future fashion students, what would it be?

First, I’d say to take any opportunity to be experimental whilst you are at university as it is the best time to do it. Explore different methods of designing, construction, and surface printing as this will help you to discover how you best design, and what you want to take forward into your final collections and into the fashion industry once you’ve graduated. The other advice I would give to future fashion students is to be as sustainable as possible in your design process, the industry is really polluting, and designing with the environment in mind is really important to make not only yourself feel good but to also reduce your own footprint. Upcycling, recycled fabrics, and bioplastics are great ways to do this.

Where can our readers see your designs?

My final garments, the process of producing my final collection, and my design boards can be seen on my Instagram page @afreyd_designs.