About Me
Hi I’m Polly, a fashion design graduate from Northumbria University.
Polly’s final collection is inspired by denim jeans. In particular the ones worn by pioneering miners during the Californian Gold Rush in 1848 and the women, ‘soiled doves’, who followed them in pursuit of their own fortune.
Taking the traditional mining values of wearing a pair of jeans until they are worn through, the ethos behind the collection is to design traditional heritage pieces which will last a lifetime and give people a sense of security in the current climate.
INSPIRATION
My initial ideas always stem from a historical era and the vintage garments worn during this time.
Drawing inspiration from vintage denim workwear, I layered menswear silhouettes with lightweight frills taken from vintage 19th century undergarments. I combined these to create a juxtaposition between masculine and feminine. Marbling prints in blue tones influenced by modern day opal mining in Australia add a fluidity to the collection and gold details inspired by my own outback mining experience bring an element of luxury and glamour.
Soul Sista was inspired by nineties sportswear and the New York hip hop scene. This 8-piece womenswear capsule collection focuses on sustainability featuring multi-functional, reversible and zero waste garments. The 1996 Olympic posters by artist Hiro Yamagata influence the bright colours and prints whilst vintage garments worn by both athletes and rappers during this period inspire modern fabrics and details including panels, quilting and zips.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Initial concept inspiration
Colour and fabric
Muse – Tyler Mahoney
Market level- luxury
Australian opal mining research
Look one design development- silhouette to stand
Frill dress design development
Marble print design development
Flat drawings look 1 and two
Final line up
Initial inspiration images
Colour and fabric
Muse- Aaliyah
Sustainability research
Print design development
Look 1 design development
Flat drawings looks 1 and 2
Flat drawings looks 3 and 4
Final line up
DETAIL
My final collection features traditional denim details and gold surface design.
These include run and fell seams, back yokes, bar tacks and gold rivets on pocket corners to help with the durability of garments. Seams in gold foil are printed over functional seams to add surface decoration to washed denim.
Fashion gives everyone the opportunity to be whoever they want. It is the person we choose to be every morning getting dressed. It gives us the chance to change our identity, to fit in or stand out.
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