Emily Chesworth

Emily Chesworth - BA (Hons) Fashion

Final Project

I’m a womenswear designer with a strong focus on embroidery, which is the heart of my creative practice. Embroidery is my true passion, and I strive to incorporate it into every piece I create, using it not only as decoration but as a storytelling tool that brings depth and texture to my work.

The inspiration behind my final collection stemmed from a desire to address waste in the outdoor and adventure community. With climate concerns becoming more urgent, I wanted to highlight how even small actions like repurposing materials can contribute to preserving the natural world. I sourced discarded tents, items often destined for landfill due to minor damage like holes or missing parts, and transformed them into wearable pieces. My goal was to use as much of these materials as possible while creating a collection that felt visually striking and meaningful. For two of the tent-based dresses, I used subtraction pattern cutting to minimise fabric waste and highlight the sustainability focus of the project.

The narrative of the collection draws from the stories of pioneering Edwardian-era female mountaineers. These women climbed mountains in cumbersome wool dresses. Garments that were entirely impractical by modern standards but were considered appropriate at the time. Each of my looks traces this journey: starting with a full dress ensemble (Look 1), transitioning into a skirt and jacket (Look 2), then evolving into trousers and a jacket when out of sight of society’s judgment (Look 3), and finally returning down the mountain, Forced back into traditional dresses (Look 4). The progression symbolises both liberation and the constraints imposed on women, both then and now.

Each piece in the collection features hand embroidery, appliqué, and subtle hand beading to showcase traditional craft techniques. These embellishments not only elevate the garments aesthetically but also reinforce the importance of slow, intentional design.

The textile patterns used throughout the collection were inspired by a deeply personal reference: the eclectic, often clashing prints of caravan upholstery and outdoor gear. Having grown up camping and walking, these mismatched patterns represent a kind of accidental beauty, functional, durable, and nostalgic. They remind me of how my mum would dress us for the outdoors in bold, clashing colours, always saying, “It’s not a fashion show”,A sentiment that deeply shaped my understanding of practicality, beauty, and individuality.