Amy Rowe - BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology
Tailored Tides
Tailored Tides, is a personal reflection of my blended heritage, drawing inspiration from both the corporate world of London and the fluid, laid-back lifestyle of Cape Town. This collection brings my vision to life by capturing the contrast and harmony between these two worlds. It balances bold, structure power dressing with soft, flowing silhouettes and detailing.
Originally, the juxtaposition was to explore the conflict in my mind about the two environments that shaped me: city or surf. However, through the research and design process I came to realise there is a powerful unity between them and I am fortunate to carry both within me.
I wanted this collection create balance and harmony between the two contrasting worlds. I aimed to represent London and the strong women who raised me through power dressing. In contrast, I incorporated wave-like cotton cording in my corsetry to echo Cape Town’s coast. I also explored wave inspired details in the buttons and used resin techniques to create a wet-look finish. A blue colour palette ties the collection together, evoking the ocean and skies of Cape Town and grounding the designs.
For this collection, I leaned into my creative pattern cutting skills to explore the contrast within my concept. I re-constructed a blazer at the hip and merged a traditional cotton corset with wave detailing and waistcoat, blending structure with fluidity.
To further express the unity between my two worlds, I wanted to ensure the sustainability, a core value instilled by both cultures. I sourced fabric from local wool mills and dead stock retailers, reducing my carbon footprint and minimising waste, ensuring my design process reflects both environmental responsibility and the duality at the heart of it.
Ultimately, Tailored Tides, is my exploration of identity where cultures meet and opposite coexist with intention and grace.
