About Me
Hi, I’m Abbie Jeffrey a fashion graduate from Heriot Watt University.
I was inspired by gender inequality and sexism against women at a historic annual festival held in my hometown in Scotland. It was important to me to show the effects of strict gendered roles in the modern world.
I take inspiration from my heritage, upbringing and hometown in the Scottish Borders. It is important to me to create a positive social impact when designing by raising awareness on modern day sexism. I focus on eliminating sexist traditions and breaking through gender barriers that can still be seen in my hometown today. It is important to me to be more sustainable by focussing on garment longevity, timeless design and avoiding trends.
INSPIRATION
‘Lost in Traditions’ – a gender neutral collection for A/W 2021/22.
‘Lost in Traditions’ is inspired by the sexism at one of Scotland’s most historic annual festivals held in my hometown of Hawick that celebrates the capture of an English Flag in 1514. Women were banned from celebrating alongside men in 1931, since then it has been an on-going fight for equality. I look at the controversial contrast between men and women in Hawick from the strict gendered roles to the dress codes. I take inspiration from the idea of modernising traditions to suit new generations.
I deconstruct conventional meanings behind ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’ and merge them to create new gender-free ideas. I support this by taking inspiration from the history of sexism, the fight for women’s rights and past dress codes to create a collection that empowers the non-traditionalist and breaks through gender barriers in Hawick. I also look to my family heritage and upbringing in Hawick by analysing traditional gender roles and dress codes at Scottish family celebrations.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
My initial inspiration research summary board
Supporting research summary board
My design mood board for my collection
The ‘Lost in Traditions’ customer.
Print inspiration and development board.
Print inspiration and development board.
‘Lost in Traditions’ collection range board.
‘Lost in Traditions’ collection range board.
My gender neutral A/W 21/22 collection line up.
Look one technical drawings and details.
Look two technical drawings and details.
Development of my look one jacket.
Development of my look one jacket.
Development of my look one jacket.
Development of the trousers and shorts.
Development of the trousers and shorts.
Development of my look two jacket.
Photoshoot images of the two outfits I made.
Photoshoot images of the two outfits I made.
DETAIL
I deconstructed then merged old traditional menswear and womenswear garments.
I wanted to create a timeless and more sustainable collection by avoiding trends and instead using experimental ways that inspire unique designs. I developed initial ideas through creative 2D collage with research imagery. Following on from this I gathered old traditional menswear and womenswear garments that were predominantly formal tailored pieces. I draped the garments on the stand in unconventional ways focussing on unusual placements of traditional details such as collars. I developed on my initial draping ideas by cutting and sewing together the gendered clothing to merge ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ details. I was inspired by using traditional formal wear to inspire designs that break through gender barriers and go against stereotypical dress codes. Alongside draping, I used flat pattern cutting, untraditional tailoring as well as using experimental samples to inform pattern shapes.
‘Detaching equality from modernity is a useful first step here, challenging both the complacency that regards “modern” societies as already characterised by gender equality’ – Anne Phillips
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
