PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE- Progression

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UCAS Application update: I have accepted a place on Womenswear at Central Saint Martins.

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UCAS applications:

1. UAL, Central St Martins- Fashion Design Womenswear

2. UAL, Central St Martins- Fashion Design with Marketing

3. UAL, London College of Fashion- Fashion Design Technology

4. UAL, London College of Fashion- Bespoke Tailoring

5. Westminster- Fashion Design

Personal Statement:

My parents who met at art college have always emphasized the importance of creative subjects and how they can alter an individual's perspective as well as enhance ones awareness. Through embracing this I have learnt to identify the things that interest me most and inspire me to create mindful pieces that emulate my own authentic style and thoughts. My interest in couture stemmed from my grandmother who worked as a bespoke seamstress. Observing her work and seeing her design garments is what first encouraged me to start teaching myself how to do the same. From the age of eleven I have been collecting books on haute couture which has bettered my knowledge in the history of fashion. My favourite time frame to research is the Renaissance period, I think this is one of the most influential eras for art, design and literature which has motivated me in multiple aspects of my work. I particularly love Michelangelo and his sculptural pieces because of the intense intricacy and his ability to capture texture so vividly. It has been confirmed for me that London is the best possible place to pursue my career as a fashion designer. Much of my family are based in central London and after spending a great deal of my own time there I have become very familiar with the city's culture; it is important for me to be in a diverse area where I am exposed to all forms of art and my mind can be stimulated as a creator. Over the course of my lifetime, I have been lucky enough to travel abroad and visit some extraordinary places, the most significant for me being the West Indies, France and Corfu. I am a huge admirer of Ancient Greek Mythology so visiting the island was particularly memorable. This is a subject I have often referenced in previous projects because I love the tales of Ancient Greece and how characters, specifically females, are portrayed and empowered through their costume. I have also travelled to France on several occasions, one being whilst I took part in an exchange trip in which I spent a week living with an unfamiliar family to study the language. I was particularly amazed by the architecture in Paris which I think truly depicts the typical French romance novel. Throughout the past couple of years, I have developed a particular interest in the way fashion is portrayed through imagery. One of my most favoured hobbies is photography and through practicing this I have learnt the importance of composition, styling and how the perfect image can elevate an outfit. I love 90's fashion photography, more specifically the works of street photographer Steven Meisel which have demonstrated to me how even the slight adjustment of exposure or contrast can transform the atmosphere in a photograph. In my spare time I work at a luxury jewellery brand which requires me to analyse the way different people choose to style and accessorise themselves, I am always intrigued to see how consumers use fashion to determine the way in which they want to be perceived by others. In a recent project I created a piece based on the French Revolution, which was posted to social media, this has since been viewed by an editor of Harper's Bazaar who has expressed her interest in hopefully featuring it in the magazine for an article regarding protests. For me fashion is about bravery and accepting the discomfort that comes alongside that. If people don't stop, stare and talk, is it worth wearing? Fashion is not meant to make you feel comfortable, it is meant to make you think outside the norms of society. My goal is to design and create clothes that give people a rush of nerves from the fear of how people will react. I would love to accomplish this by eventually having my own brand, and I know that your institution is not only best suited to my beliefs and personal approach to fashion but will also provide the tools and experience necessary for me to reach my full potential, so that I will one day see my own designs on a runway.

Portfolio building: