Duncan Brown

 

I adored this merino wool pin stripe suit by Duncan Brown at Glasgow School of Arts Degree Show, it was so soft, so masculine and elegant, beautifully made. 

"This look symbolizes the foundation of my journey, drawing inspiration from the twill structure of denim, a traditional workwear material, reimagined within a knitwear context. The denim reflects my roots and where I’ve come from, while the tailoring represents my aspirations." Duncan Brown

 “Are you dressing for the life you wish you had…or are you dressing for the life that you are living?”— Carol Campbell

 

"Exploring the intersection of identity, image, and the pursuit of personal growth through clothing. Drawing from the narrative within my own wardrobe, I examine how the clothes I wear reflect my story, rooted in a working-class background, grounded in tradition, and shaped by practicality and simplicity. With aspirations to progress beyond the confines of my roots while still honouring them, I integrate minimalist design principles to build a wardrobe for the everyday, one that merges tradition with modernity. Through combining knitwear and tailoring, I express my personal growth, pride in where I come from, and my ambition to progress beyond it" Duncan Brown

Dora Kapus

 

Dora Kapus's graduate collection for GSA. 

Iona Yost

"This collection follows the principles of localism. Inspiration is taken from my Scottish heritage and experiences living on a small island, and sits alongside using innovative local textile manufacturers such as Bute Fabrics and Halley Stevensons." Iona Yost 

Iona Yost's graduate collection ‘Interwoven Alba’ has ben designed with localism central to it's concepts. Exploring Scotland’s innovative textiles, enduring heritage practices, and the amazing people working to reduce industry waste. 

Traditional highland wear influences combine with eco-conscious waxed cottons to inform a contemporary menswear collection. It is not held back by the fleeting trends of today, and instead comprises of versatile lifelong garments that age with the wearer.  

Clancy Sinding Dawson

Clancy Sinding Dawson's 'The Vulgar is Tremendous Fun' graduate collection for GSA.

This collection goes so far as to be almost anti-erotic, in protest against the ‘sex sells’ ethic endemic in advertising and in the fashion industry. An attraction to vulgarity led me to my two main muses for this collection: Richard E. Grant’s character ‘Withnail’ in the film Withnail and I, and Rik Mayall’s character ‘Richie’ in the TV series Bottom. The behaviour of these two anarchic characters is wildly entertaining and curiously liberating for the viewer, but most importantly, they behave with shameless authenticity. Both Withnail and Richie reject society’s expectations of a ‘young gentleman’s’ behaviour and instead act with a complete lack of integrity. This has inspired the nonchalant aesthetic of my six looks. Drawing inspiration from archetypal feminine silhouettes, once favoured by rock legends Rod Stewart, Brian Jones and Mick Jagger in the 1970s, the purpose of this collection is to challenge our notions of beauty, masculinity and ‘manliness’, in the hopes of transforming our expectations of gender and sex roles for a more inclusive society. After all, as British milliner Stephen Jones says: “The vulgar is tremendous fun”. Clancy Dawson

Flint James McDonald

Flint James McDonald's graduate collection at GSA was called; 'Son of a Tinker'.
I love this flamboyant challenging collection, it appealed to my fascination with folk culture, whilst Flint's use of sumptuous fabrics in opulent ruffles with fantastic finishes, utilised designs that held great humour mixed with historic referencing.
The use of cutlery in the headdress and in various accessories was genius, pertinent to the subject, but also adding an element of performance to the collection, with wearers clattering like surreal spoon playing morris dancers.

It was a stunningly conceived, designed and produced collection and I hope that this designer goes far.

"Acknowledging history as an active and abiding presence in the creation of contemporary life has been a recurring theme within my work - looking to antiquated codes of the historical mode and challenging the notion of binaries within sartorial regulation I question how ritualistic rites of passage associated with garment and gender distinctions, and toying with the very nature of their intent could provide an alternative means to socially normative expectations of gendered fashion.
Bettering oneself with delusions of opulence and living out-with one’s own means conjures the image of an individual whose own perceptions of self is duped with thoughts of grandeur.  These garments act as an attempting to emulate by-gone royalty of medieval times by utilising one’s surroundings whether it be the tearing apart of tattered floral upholstery to become a jerkin or the stringing of pre-loved cutlery around one’s head to draw attention to regal status -this collection is dedicated to the dreamer whose deluded proposal for life becomes reality." Flint James McDonald