About Me
Hi, I’m Alicia Glen, a fashion design graduate from Leeds Art Uni
Alicia glen is a fashion designer of African and British descent who specialises in womenswear, culture, and heritage. Through her research and practice, she discovered her identity through her heritage and was able to pay homage to both her British and African side through her graduate collection, further winning a GFW live brief competition.
after studying art, textiles and fashion design through out my time in education, ive come to the realisation that Afro-British mixed race fashion and design is still a very niche category, and i wanted to express this through my process and designs. I explored traditional and contemporary techniques through print, beading, and shape. I am so proud with my graduate collection and how I’ve been able to tell a story about identity and the life of growing up mixed race in the UK through fashion and interpretation.
INSPIRATION
Too black to be white, to white to be black… what am i then?
Growing up mixed race in the UK meant constantly navigating different cultures, often feeling both included and set apart. I learned to embrace the richness of my heritage, blending traditions, languages, and perspectives. Yet, questions like “Where are you really from?” reminded me that identity isn’t always simple. In the last year of my fashion design studies, I found strength in my uniqueness and built a sense of belonging through design.
As I got older, I began to challenge the labels others placed on me—not just in life, but through fashion design. Creating clothing became a way to express my mixed identity, blending styles, cultures, and influences. Being mixed race gave me a unique lens, shaping designs that reflect diversity and complexity. Fashion became my voice, helping me celebrate difference, question norms, and craft something bold, personal, and entirely my own.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Press release
Initial research page
colour and fabric
Print page
Outfit 1 design development
Outfit 2 design development
Outfit 3 design development
Outfit 4 design development
Final lineup
CADs
final garments and illustration
final photoshoot
GFW competition - winner
GFW competition, design development - winner
GFW competition, design development - winner
GFW competition, final range - winner
jacket project
jacket project tech pack
jacket project final images
DETAIL
i made a Afro-British print juxtaposing stereotypical British motifs with traditional African print
I created a unique African British fashion print that blends cultural identity and heritage through bold, symbolic motifs. At the heart of the design is a pint glass, representing British pub culture, alongside a reimagined London Underground sign labeled “Zimbabwe-London” to symbolize migration and connection. A Queen’s stamp and the Union Jack add iconic British elements, while the Nottingham Forest logo reflects my local pride and personal roots. These images, layered with vibrant African patterns, tell a story of diaspora, dual identity, and creative fusion between my Zimbabwean heritage and British upbringing
“Black like the key on the piano, white like the key on the piano” - Loyle Carner
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
