About Me
I’m Kirstie for Heriot-Watt University
My core goal with my fashion degree is to support and contribute to the battle for a greener industry. This has always been, and will continue to be, the baseline to all my work. I value my future success, not just by my impact in fashion industry, but by my contribution to all communities.
My graduate project explores the Celtic/pagan way of live and their origins. My concept was formed around my own interest in these movements and concentrates further on my personal surroundings and experiences as I explore the nature, landscape, and spiritual history of my home in Scotland through my designs and fabric making. The collection is designed to draw attention to the shift towards holistic living and how this is being integrated into society now, through spiritual, mindful, and sustainable practices.
INSPIRATION
Through my goals to live holistically, I was intrigued about the origins of this way of life.
When the pandemic began and we entered our first national lockdown, this extended period at home gave me a lot of time to focus on myself. I began meditating and putting more time into fitness, yoga and spending extended time in nature. I grew more curious about the origins of this holistic lifestyle and the effects this was having on my mental health. I wanted to explore my interests further, focusing specifically on Scottish folklore and Celtic/Pagan lifestyles.
The name of my collection is ‘The Witching Hour’ and focuses on the dark and mystical visual associated with these mythologies, elevating and blending this with how the unknown territory of the world was reviving a sense of mystic spirituality. Rooted in nature, the core of the project draws from a period of history without the presence of a central belief system, looking deeper into the ancient wisdom of those before us, where nature was integral to our physiological, physical, and spiritual selves.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
DETAIL
My collection was based around my fabric making, focusing on eco-dying, manipulation and macramé.
All materials used are natural fibres such as ramie, bamboo or silk, or the fabric is upcycled/repurposed tulle and polyester. The materials used to dye the fabric were all natural and not harmful to the environment, for example, I used dried locally picked flowers and leaves, natural indigo power, white vinegar, turmeric, and red cabbage. Macrame was a heavy feature through the collection, inspired by the aesthetic of Celtic knots and witch runes. The fabric manipulation was design to mimic the mystical Scottish landscape and movement of water and mist, that captures a lot of the Scottish spiritual value.
As we adapt to new hybrid lives the ‘fashion rules’ the industry once held as gospel become blurred, as social constructs are broken down and shifting priorities becomes more apparent.
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
