About Me
Hi, I’m Olivia, a fashion design graduate from Plymouth College of Art
I am a passionate creative who loves textiles and bright colours. My graduate collection features pattern and bold messages inspired by my topic of sexual assault. I was lucky enough to receive a bursary in 2nd year, which allowed me to spend time with Aesthetic Laundry, an ethical brand based in London, my skills were extended thanks to this opportunity.
My graduate collection is a compilation of everything I love in fashion, the topic of sexual assault is something I felt necessary to use to inspire my designs and I am extremely proud to use my collection to give a voice to those who have been victims to sexual violence. I want my collection to inspire others to speak about their experiences and to tell the world that women are sick of feeling scared to go out regardless of what they are wearing. My design style is wearable, funky and with purpose.
INSPIRATION
My inspiration came from seeing too many young people losing their lives because of sexual assault.
Being a young woman myself, I find it extremely daunting to walk home alone in the dark, to walk past groups of men when I’m on my own, to have men shout out their car windows when they drive past you. I wanted my collection to give a voice to those people who have been affected by sexual assault and scream from the rooftops that we have had enough of being scared and remaining silent. Through my prints and my designs I have been able to translate those messages.
The bold messages on the back of my clothing give a nod to the phrases you see all over social media, such as the ‘me too’ movement. The lack of representation in mainstream media inspired my collection, seeing women like Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa lose their lives at such young ages fuelled my designs and the reasons I wanted this topic to inspire my garments. No one should lose their life to sexual assault, it is an evil act only performed by cowards.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Clothes Aren't Consent Look 1
Looks 1 and 2 Moodboard
Clothes Aren't Consent Looks 2, 3 and 4
Portfolio Page
Clothes Aren't Consent Collection Overview
Clothes Aren't Consent Look 1
Portfolio Page for Look 4
Final Line Up
Inspiration Collage
Look 2 Development
Portfolio Page for Look 3
Clothes Aren't Consent Looks 2, 3 and 4
Range Plan
Look 4 Development
Clothes Aren't Consent Look 1
Look 1 Development
Initial Designs
Look 3 Development
Portfolio Page for Look 2
DETAIL
Women against sexual assault protest. Plymouth, December 2021.
This image was taken in Plymouth city centre at around midday. A women against sexual violence protest happened In Plymouth in December 2021, I used these images in my sketchbook as I felt it was relevant to show that women from every inch of the world are sick and tired of feeling unsafe. These images show that there is still so much change that needs to happen in order for us to feel safe and non sexualised. Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa are just two of the poor women that have lost their lives to sexual assault in the UK. Something needs to change. Women shouldn't have to change what they are wearing in order to not appear 'sexualised' or to not be targeted by a sexual predator. Sarah Everard was wearing gym clothing, running trainers and a jacket and she was still raped and killed by a man.
'It doesn't matter what I was wearing.'
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
