Helda Chin

Helda Chin's designs from her graduate exhibition at Gray's School of Art focused on symbols, the chichèd language of icons and info graphics. 

Mhairi Stewart

"Focusing on the prison environment and the lives of the captive community, I have used print to explore the relationship between the solid imposing construction of cell blocks and the fragility of life spent within. Examining the distortion of reality and the destruction of the sense of self within this unforgiving setting. I have taken inspiration from the contrast between soul and cell to create a bold , graphic menswear collection." Mhairi Stewart

Lisa van Nuland

Lisa van Nuland's graduate collection at Gray's School of Art called 'Within/Without"

"The dark colours and thick forest slowly become sparser. Showing themselves intermittently before reaching altitude, where patches of moss on rock start to come into view, if you can take your gaze away from the hills surrounding you.This is where the synchronicities of our inner and outer lives really come to their rights; our emotions triggered by things such as colour, and our abstract thoughts taking geometric shapes mimicking the flow and simplicity of nature itself. This is subtly intertwined with the richness you find when you look a little deeper. In my collection I used only sustainably sourced organic wool and linen. The fabric was dyed, folded and needle felted to create the desired effect." Lisa van Nuland

Lisa van Nuland's garments are reminiscent of the times when we lived outdoors and invested heavily in the creation of garments from the locality using skills built over generations. Lisa has a love of Scotland and the environment and this has effected all aspects of her textiles and fashion design.

Callum Donnan

Callum Donnan's Graduate collection 'Cephalium' for Gray's school of art.

"Researching cacti and succulent plants, I came across the cacti surfaces. These plants have amazing barriers that have inspired my collection with their interesting textures, colours and patterns. I have created interactive knitwear that the viewer instinctively wants to touch. My collection is not only inspired by the waxy surface and spines that most cacti are covered with, but also the 'Cephallium' the wooly hair that insulates the cacti." Callum Donnan

Dovile Gusevaite

Dovile Gusevaite's textiles and fashion are unusual, challenging and strange and so of course I love them right down to the hairy socks.
Her degree collection for Gray's School of Art was entitled 'In search of Forgotten Identity and Place'

"Today there is a district known as Aukstieji Sanciai (Higher Sanciai) in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania. Aukstieji Sanciai is a very central district that is situated alone on the hill between forests and parks, beside the river Nemuna. USSR occupation for nearly 50 years and the economic situation, the government and EU financing, all shape the daily life of the local community of this forgotten district. This place is unique, because there is a feeling of natural evolution and cultural growth from Europe. This project focuses on the individuality of the people of this community." Dovile Gusevaite

Tracey Doonan II

Details of samples and sketches by Tracey Doonan's graduate collection 'Electrical Components'.

Bethan Nadine

Bethan Nadine's graduation collection, at Grays School of Art Fashion Show, 'State of Mind' was a delicate collection of intricately embroidered and embellished tops in sheer fabric with bold kaleidoscopic printed skirts.

State of Mind‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty – That is all / ye know on earth, and all ye need to know’John KeatsThe natural world led Keats to formulate a concept he called ‘negative capability’ or the capacity of a person to experience ‘uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact or reason’.  In the natural world we can put aside our personal certainties and simply respond to the colours, patterns and textures we see, feel and touch without superimposed discipline of cultural norms or distractions of our binary and technological 21st century existences.In the natural world, in the hills and mountains where I like to run, this physical freedom can also provide different creative expression of the landscape around me.  There are no rules here.  The landscape is abstracted.  My source material is organic, shifting and my exaggerated colours more vibrant than any real moorland.  Swirling lines and shapes that hint at mountain sides, rivers and living things are representative.  There is no order in repeat patterns.  In this state of mind my initial designs are intuitive and free, simply an emotional response to nature.  A state of mind and a way of seeing. Bethan Nadine