Florence Sargent

 

Tactile, textile, sensory, play objects  by Florence Sargent made from recycled board,  felt, calico, waste upholstery foam and pigment ink. The outer layer uses the play materials felt coloured with an acrylic paint based mix, developed to be suitable for submerging and dyeing.

Florence uses colour to lead design which often results in a kaleidoscope of geometry with seamless line fluidity and a curiosity towards optical play. Her journey through the RCA has been anchored by the desire to encourage a playful engagement with surfaces through use of colour theory and soft materials.

Jade Shields

Chiffon, netting and men do not usually mix, these fabrics being the domain of grandmothers curtains and bridal veils. In Jade Shields' MA collection 'The New Romanticist', Jade juxtaposes these slight fabrics with wool suiting challenging masculinity and fabric use.

"This collection explores what it means to be masculine, the breadwinner, the manager of an office, the protector. Since masculinity is held up as a signal of the ‘norm’ in western culture, any deviation from conventional male attire is viewed with great unease. Exaggeration within the dress of those men who wish to step outside this somewhat rigid definition has a long history, and exaggeration itself need only be slight to provoke moral anxiety.

Inspired by the movement of 18th century Romanticism, ‘The New Romanticist’ asks what it means to be masculine by challenging and breaking down the preconceptions of masculinity and patriarchy, experimenting with conventional male and female fabrics and detaching them from the main body of garments." Jade Shields 

Matilda Norberg

Matilda Norberg graduated from the RCA last summer with this wonderful collection of Knitwear called; "Earth's Crust / Material Rules" a collection that experimented with innovative knitting techniques combined with bold silhouette and form.