Fashion Designer
A fashion designer conceptualises and creates clothing, footwear, and accessories, often with a focus of aesthetic appeal, functionality, and marketability. Fashion designers draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including art, culture, history, and current trends, to develop unique designs that resonate with consumers. Fashion designers also collaborate with patternmakers, seamstresses, and manufacturers to produce the garments or accessories on a larger scale. They oversee the production process, ensuring that quality standards are met and that the final products align with their original vision. Fashion designers may work independently, creating their own fashion lines or brands, or they may be employed by fashion houses, clothing companies, or retail organisations.
I have some education experience in fashion design from college, and it was something I really enjoyed doing, and still do. I really enjoy the experimental aspects, playing with patterns, textures, materials and shapes, and using those experiments to inspire garment designs. I could see myself pursuing a career in fashion design, or taking opportunities in that job for the experience and enjoyment I would get.
Below are a few of my designs from a 'patterns in nature' project I did in 2021.
Credit: Eden Harvey (Me!)
Credit: Eden Harvey (Me!)
My personal and my branding style has changes since college, especially since being given the independence to follow my own inspiration and style within my projects. If I was to ever work as a fashion designer I could see myself going against the norms and trends and attempting to resonate less with the masses, but more so the smaller audience who feel unseen, unheard and unaccommodated too. I've always struggled to find inspirational figures as I feel like my style and interests aren't widely enjoyed, so I would like to become an anomaly in the fashion industry and be someone that the minority can be inspired by and resonate with.
A fashion designer I have known of for years, but only recently seen as a fashion inspiration is John Galliano. As I said, I've heard of his name (of course), but after seeing his designs for the Maision Margiela 2024 Spring Couture Collection, which I think impressed most fashion enthusiasts, I looked more into his designs and my eyes lit up. I love the whimsical elegance of his 1993 Spring Ready-to-Wear collection, to the flamboyant, porcelain doll look of his 2024 Spring Couture Collection. His designs are everything I love about fashion, extravagant and whimsical, yet not stepping into the grounds of ridiculous and unrealistic. I love how he doesn’t typically cater to the masses, but produces designs he enjoys that would resonate with the minority looking for a green light to express themselves outside of what's trending and the current, everchanging standards.
John Galliano
John Galliano - 1993 Spring
John Galliano - 2000 Fall
John Galliano - 2003 AD campaign
John Galliano - 2011 Dior S/S
John Galliano - 2009 Fall