POP 317 Monday 14 June 2010

Today’s POP is Tui and she is marvelling over the new and unknown!

For some people Graduate Fashion Week is a life or death situation, for others it’s more death than life. Not long ago Central Saint Martins sent off 40 of their best of the best student’s collections and here is what some of them had to say after the show.

HELEN PRICE

What is your background?
I grew up in Liverpool where I did my foundation. My tutor in college had brought in a knitting machine, which is where it all started.

What inspires you?
Lately it's been photography. The colours and mood can be so inspiring. I really love the collaborations of Tim Walker and Shona Heath.

Explain what your collection is based on.
It's kind of my version of what would happen if Francis Bacon met Tim Burton. It started with an exhibition I went to see in New York, a retrospective of Francis Bacon. I found his portraits so inspiring – his colours really influenced me. This combined with Tim Burton's topiary in Edward Scissorhands and how all his films are playful and beautiful but still a bit sinister.

Who do you design for?
So far its been myself, but I really like the idea of creating something to put into a photograph… being able to capture the mood and colour it evokes is almost the aim for the garment.

What’s next?
Definitely a sit down and a cup of tea. (Or something a bit stronger.)

CRAIG GREEN

What is your background?
I was born in northwest London and also grew up there – both my parents are white/British English, so it makes me about as exotic as a sausage. I started on the Saint Martins foundation wanting to be a painter but somehow accidentally went down the fashion route, and never regretted it. I was lucky enough in the past to work for Walter van Beirendonck and Henrik Vibskov, who are two of my design heroes, as well as gaining some experience at Topman and James Long.

What inspires you?
My work always seems to be centered around boyhood fantasy, I’ve always thought that fashion is a form of escapism and believe that there should always be an element of adventure and fantasy when I design. Another point that has always interested me is the ideas of masculinity and D.I.Y, I think growing up around so many tradesmen and my dad being a plumber has some how rubbed off on me.

Explain what your collection is based on.
My collection is based on a Russian folk robot character, whilst also taking influences and references from old tin toys, sexual fetishes and home-made fancy dress. I was really interested in taking influence from folk dress and somehow re-translating them into mechanical and masculine fabric manipulation techniques. My friend described it as looking like somewhere between toy soldiers and cakes, which I guess is kind of true.

Who do you design for?
Generally I design for a fantasy character, whilst still trying to introduce an almost sportswear element.

What’s next?
I’m still waiting to hear back from some MA courses, so fingers crossed that will hopefully be my next move.

SCOTT ARNOLD

What is your background?
I grew up in rural Buckinghamshire, not far from Milton Keynes, where I studied fine art and photography until A level. I moved to London when starting my foundation year at Central Saint Martins and a place on the BA womenswear course was a natural progression. During my gap year (year in industry) I was offered a job assisting the head of RTW and running the sample room at Luella, which I did for a year (having the best time!) before returning to college last year for my final year (which was great too).

What inspires you?
I am naturally inspired by mood and aim to generate a feeling or an emotion in my designs whether it is nostalgic, idyllic or dark etc. With most of my initial inspiration drawn from documentary photography particularly works by Roger Mayne orTom wood

Explain what your collection is based on.
My collection was based on British working class women and the notion of the matriarch, referencing pitt girls, fishwives and land girls. The collection aims to be both beautiful while also remaining robust, representing the strength found in the women in my research.

Who do you design for?
I design for the woman who enjoys an attention to detail, texture and colour someone who is both easy and effortless while also being a little odd (if that makes sense).

What’s next?
No concrete plans, as of yet, ideally I would like to develop my work within a fashion house, somewhere I can continue to learn and explore.

SORCHA O’RAGHALLAIG

What is your background?
I'm from Ireland. After working as an assistant to Dublin based knitwear designer Heather Finn I came to London four years ago to study knitwear at Saint Martins.

What inspires you?
Everything and anything….but I think I especially take a lot of inspiration from films, music and my own life experiences. I like to make my work very personal.

Explain what your collection is based on.
My collection was originally inspired by the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I have been obsessed with the film since I first saw it! I wanted to translate how powerfully Michel Gondry illustrated memories and played with scale in the film, into my collection. I was also really inspired by the Day of the Dead festival and placed symbols which represent some of my own memories in my collection.

Who do you design for?
People who appreciate one off hand crafted pieces.

What’s next?
Erm hopefully employment so I can start paying off some loans!!!! But who knows… I'm trying to keep an open mind.