Athena Ross-Michaelides

This is from Athena Ross-Michaelides's Degree show 'Unfunctional Objectification', at Glasgow School of Art this summer with Latex torso's, a shedded skin of privacy, exposed.

Laura Thompson

Laura Thompson is a recent graduate of Glasgow School of Art. In this project 'Senceless' she combines photography and costume to create mythologies using 'disposable' mass manufactured products such as plastic forks.

"I was looking at urban legends and hoaxes such as Bigfoot and people’s obsessive fascination of these elusive beasts. What interested me most was that many seemed to be based on existing mythologies and the fact that many of these creatures, seemed to be trapped between two worlds. Bigfoot being the prime example is not quite human or animal so wanders on the fringe of both, not really belonging to either. From these findings I began to create modern day mythological narratives in which I explore themes associated with the dislocation of our senses. It is centred on constructed “yeti-like” creatures made up of either disposable manmade plastic forks, earplugs, vinyl gloves, car air fresheners or compact mirrors, each representing one of the senses. These creatures have been consumed by these modern, materialistic items and as such can no longer sense anything at all. Neither human nor animal, they wander between worlds fitting in nowhere, yearning to be part of a world they no longer belong to, and becoming a creature of myth." Laura Thompson

Slow Factory

 Slow Factory was set up by Céline Semann Vernon,

"Fashion activism is using fashion as a tool to create social change. I feel like fashion plus human rights equals fashion activism. What we are seeing right now is a lot of people trying to find new ways to create and produce in ways that don’t hurt the planet, ways that contribute to a bigger cause. I think some designers are more conscious and responsible in wanting to create a social impact."  Céline Semann Vernon

Are We There Yet? from Slow Factory on Vimeo.

Gino Anthonisse

Gino Anthonisse's inspiration  has to be something that shocks and astonishes him; "my most recent collection was partly inspired by a book called 'Codex Seraphinianus' by Luigi Serafini. It is an encyclopedia about an imaginary and surreal world with very strange illustrations . . . 

and an invented language the author created himself. It is considered one of the most peculiar books and has generated debates about its meaning. This is what inspired me, the curiosity in human kind to discover the mysterious, the magical and the occult. My designs represent that part of the consciousness, the surreal." Gino Anthonisse

Gino's designs appealed to me as they reminded me of legacy folk traditions whose meanings as often lost in time and so they are surreal events stepping forward through history macabre and startling. They also have echoes of Nick Caves sound suits, I look forward to Gino's career blossoming,  he is an extremely exciting designer.

Rich Mnisi

Rich Mnisi is a South African label founded by Rich the graduate winner of the Africa Fashion International Young Designer of the Year 2014. Combining modern pop culture with Africa's rich heritage this label combines minimalism with craftsmanship and design, here is a selection from his Summer 2017 lookbook.

Justyna Matysiak

Joy today at discovering outsider fashion illustration by Polish artist Justyna Matysiak, they bring great humanity  and joy to the world of high fashion, rendered complete with accessories in felt, glitter or gel pens. Justyna's work is held in many collections internationally and 2007, she was awarded the Grand Prix Insite by the Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava. Thank you, Tui Sankamol.

Olivia Hearnshaw

Olivia Hearnshaw's work in 'Ma' explores the space between the body and the garment.