Isabella Hyland - BA (Hons) Fashion
TAKE A BITE!
When questioning my own design identity and philosophy, I like to think about the wide range of things which inspire my work and what excites me about fashion. I find myself drawn to the decadent and feminine detail of Edwardian and Victorian garments, particularly undergarments. I love looking at the construction of vintage undergarments, whether this be structural pieces such as bustles and the Mantua or softer lace pieces such as corset covers and petticoats.
I specialise in both knit and print, knit being my main specialism, and I am always interested in methods that I can knit in new and innovative ways. Fashion design allows me to express my creativity in a tactile way into something which can be worn by people. It combines all of my interests in art, textiles and garment creation, and I have always been so passionate about it since I was a child, as I would always try to dress up my friends and family. I like to represent this childlike nature of experimenting with clothing and simply layering various things within my designs.
Through my final collection, I aim to capture this feeling of fun and freedom through the colours, textures and shapes within my designs. I am drawn to stripes both from my historical garment research and also the more playful research which I completed into sweets, ice cream, cakes and deck chair fabric. I was inspired by vintage illustrations of cakes and sweets from the colour palettes and shapes in these drawings, and the foods which we enjoy by the seaside; these details have all informed my design process.
