Sarah Findlay

What was lovely to see about Sarah Finlay's collection was the obvious ease and happiness wearing her clothes gave the models. This collection 'Youth Club' explored how contemporary and vintage children's fashions can be adapted for adults.

Elaine Southwell

Elaine Southwell's graduate collection "Wrapped Up" at Galashields was inspired by buddhist robes and the nature of drape with layered saffron and red garments, wraps and ties.

"Inspired by Buddhism the collection looks at traditional robes and how this uniform creates both a synergy of identity but individuality simultaneously." Elaine Southwell.

Ania Kuźnia

Ania Kuźnia created a graduate woman's wear collection designed using the principles of zero waste pattern cutting collection. Ania also has a specialist business making flamenco skirts and dresses which has emerged from her interest in this dance form.

"When I was making flamenco outfits for a show, I had this pile off cuts fabrics. . .  I collected them and tried to reuse them  to reduce the waste, so I began to think about how I could create something from the remaining fabrics or use them in my existing flamenco designs. I started looking for any ideas and I came across Timmo Rissanen and Holly McQuillan designers and lecturers who have both developed individual zero waste techniques. I founded it fascinating and wanted to give a go.
I started looking at the clothes construction in fashion history and among traditional costumes around the world., particularly where fabrics were expensive to make was fully exploited." Ania Kuźnia

Laura McIntosh

Laura MacIntosh's graduate collection for Fashion Technology at Heriot-Watt was; 'Henko' an adaptable, morphing range of clothing perfect for the constantly changing Scottish climate. 

Stylish minimalism was key to this elegant highly wearable collection of convertible fashion separates that cleverly transform with minimal effort into a variety of aesthetics and functions. 

"The collection is called Henko which means change and adaptation in Japanese as inspirations of the collection were taken from japanese culture and traditional dress. The collection contains five convertible staple garments paired with simple complementary separates.  The project aims were to investigate whether convertible fashion could be introduced to a mainstream market and be commercially viable. I wanted to create convertible garments that are different and more innovative than what is already available on the market such as infinity dresses made of stretch jersey. I wanted to use different materials with more interesting textures and properties. Using a juxtaposition of wool and silk a luxurious feel is created as these garments must be of high quality to withstand repeated use. " Laura MacIntosh

Ryan Kirk

Ryan Kirk graduated in Fashion Technology from Heriot Watt University this week. His collection 'Architecture of the Earth used sustainable innovative fabrics such as banana fibre and recycled plastic to create a 'capsule' collection of different layers of texture like different strata in the earth.

"The main aim for my work is to select new and innovative sustainable fabrics. The collection incorporates both natural fibres and post-consumer waste to help overflowing landfill issues and to eliminate devastating environmental disasters. On one side the natural fibres will biodegrade if they were ever sent to landfill, and on the other, the use of post-consumer waste prevents it going to landfill." Ryan Kirk

Joanne Thomas

I loved Joanne Thomas's 'All We Have Is Words' collection at the Heriot-Watt University degree show. Joannes collection explored and contextualised her emotions and thoughts about her grandmother loss of sight and the emotions this loss generated. The delicate feminine clothes had a beautiful flow but were bound to show the loss of independence whilst the nature of the sheer fabric expressed a vulnerability and sense of being exposed.

Chloe Parnell

Last night I had the wonderful experience of seeing some one who I had as a student many years ago,  graduation fashion show. This is the work of Chloe Parnell who has just completed her degree at Heriot Watt University in Galashiels.  Chloe's contemporary collection 'InterLACEd' featured digitally printed Scottish lace made in the last lace mill in Scotland.