About Me
HI, I'M LEIGH A GRADUATE FROM NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY
From a personal research area, I have been brought up listening to my grandparents’ stories on their upbringing and how hard the times were during the Yorkshire Coal Mining period. My grandad started working in the pit at the age of 16 and worked his way up the ladder by working and experiencing different collieries.
My collection is a way of showing that working men’s clothing can be crafted into something more fashionable and smarter, not just clothing you can wear and throw away when holes appear. I am combining nostalgic workwear clothing with a more modern tailored design to create a unique menswear collection that is really representative of my Grandparents upbringings. This sense of workwear from the mines and the combination of the working men’s club I want to create this strong powerful collection of how families helped each other.
INSPIRATION
MY INITIAL IDEA STARTED FROM LISTENING TO MY GRANDPARENTS UPBRINGING AT A YOUNG AGE.
My research so far widened my mind on what I want my collection to look like. I wanted to incorporate the colliery remains into my designs as I felt this would be a memorable touch to the society in remembrance of those who unfortunately died. To do this I will develop a strong print idea to compliment my research correctly. I will use this print on jacket and pocket linings in addition to printed shirts. This will bring it together creating a cohesive unique collection.
The colours I have decided are developed into multiple shaded inspired by the machinery and vibrant garments worn down the pit creating texture and tones throughout. The fabrics is another area of investigation I need to think deeply about, although I know my inspiration will come from what the workers wore. Choosing the right fabrics will help my collection appear more professional. I am pushing myself to create unique textural prints, and this is definitely a main focus within the collection.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
FMP concept page.
FMP concept page.
FMP concept page.
FMP colour & fabric page.
FMP design development 1.
FMP design development 2.
FMP design development 3.
FMP design development 4.
FMP lineup.
Latest toile for FMP.
Live competition for Paul Smith Japan.
Paul Smith Japan concept page.
Paul Smith Japan concept page.
Paul Smith Japan colour page.
Paul Smith Japan print page.
Paul Smith Japan design development.
Paul Smith Japan design development.
Paul Smith Japan lineup.
Paul Smith Japan outfit breakdown.
DETAIL
I USED AN ORANGE CONTRAST STITCH TO STAND OUT ON MY GARMENTS AS A KEY DETAIL
The colours I have decided are developed into multiple shaded inspired by the machinery and vibrant garments worn down the pit creating texture and tones throughout. The fabrics is another area of investigation I need to think deeply about, although I know my inspiration will come from what the workers wore. Choosing the right fabrics will help my collection appear more professional. I am pushing myself to create unique textural prints, and this is definitely a main focus within the collection.
“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” – Coco Chanel
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