About Me
I’m Ona, a Manchester Fashion Institute graduate
Graduating with a BA (Hons) in Fashion Art Direction, Ona has gained multidisciplinary skills and an ability to create innovative, contemporary fashion outcomes. Throughout third year, she’s condensed her practice knowledge and chosen to specialise in styling editorials that align with her own art direction, or that of a collaborating art director.
“I love concepts and fashion outcomes that possess depth or challenge something, from a trend to a social issue,” Ona expresses. With most of her work revolving around concepts and narrative, Ona thrives in the planning and research stages of an editorial and builds a driven, well-informed, creative team to bring her visions to life.
INSPIRATION
All my work starts with the current climate and how I can creatively respond to what’s happening NOW
With styling I’m always inspired by emerging designers and brands that create experimental, conceptual slow fashion that has no commercial or trend limits. I get excited by the responsibility of working with multiple designer’s works in an editorial and creating an outcome that excites my audience and the designer’s. Visualising different styles of clothing together and showcasing designers work in a way that they didn’t even know to be possible is very exciting.
With Art Direction, it allows me to bring the best of each practitioner and specialism together, to enhance the quality and success of an editorial. The creative team that forms, inspires me to create an even more refined project than initially imagined. I love the practical, making process just as much as the project management and logistical side of setting up an editorial, as I’m so inspired by the end result.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
'Secret Places' for French Fries Magazine 2021
'Secret Places' for French Fries Magazine 2021
'Stepping Out' for Malvie Mag 2021
'The Next Wave' Editorial for GFF Award
Myla for Galchester Mag 2021
'Forever Gold' for 17:23 Magazine 2021
'Forever Gold' for 17:23 Magazine 2021
'Forever Gold' for 17:23 Magazine 2021
'Mina' for Mordant Magazine 2021
'Parallel' in collaboration with Aoife Taylor 2021
'Parallel' in collaboration with Aoife Taylor 2021
Styling and Photography experiments 2021
Styling and Photography experiments 2021
'Little Bo Peep' for 17:23 Magazine 2021
FaceTime photography and styling 2020
XYBER Clothing, photography and art direction 2021
XYBER Clothing, photography and art direction 2021
'Flourishing' Mob Journal 2021
DETAIL
I always aim to find the balance between planning and spontaneity when creating
My more successful outcomes are those that I’ve spent the time before the shoot, experimenting and playing with what the outcome could be. However, I always approach the shoot day with an open mind for the plan to grow and change into something that works even better. Directing in this way, allows the team I’m working with, to input their suggestions in the moment to produce more natural, and collaborative editorial imagary.
"Ona’s unique styling ability complements her formidable skill of directing a shoot. She's created opportunities for my design work to be published internationally" Niamh Dobson, designer
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