Holly Roden- BA (Hons) Fashion
Anchored in Love
Rooted in family archives, my graduate collection examines the ways love, legacy, and memory are carried across generations. I looked to the lives of my great-grandparents, drawing inspiration from wedding albums, treasured family photographs, and images of relatives who served in the navy and military during wartime. These personal records became a visual archive of devotion, resilience, and connection, informing both the concept and aesthetic of the collection.
The collection translates these histories into contemporary ready-to-wear, using clothing as a vessel for storytelling and remembrance. Knitwear sits at the heart of my practice, where I enjoy exploring yarn, texture, stitch development, and jacquard techniques to create tactile and expressive surfaces informed by family archives and personal history.
Materiality plays an important role within my work. The collection incorporates significant quantities of deadstock designer fabrics and leather, alongside repurposed sailcloth, reflecting both the maritime references within the research and an interest in extending the life of existing materials. Through reworking and combining these fabrics, I aim to create garments that carry their own histories while contributing to new narratives.
My work combines tailored and utilitarian influences with softer, more decorative elements, creating contemporary ready-to-wear that feels both playful and personal. I enjoy reinterpreting familiar silhouettes through texture, proportion, and detail, while maintaining a strong focus on wearability and craft.
Through knitwear, craft, and storytelling, my work explores how clothing can preserve memories, honour those who came before us, and create connections between past and present.
