HELEN ELIZABETH SPENCER

Grey Sheep

Location

london / United Kingdom

University

london college of fashion

Graduation year

2011

Contact

Helen Elizabeth Spencer is a recent graduate from the Womenswear specialism at the London College of Fashion. Her graduate collection was heavily textile based and centred around creating timeless investment pieces the wearer will keep in their wardrobe for years.

She is now actively trying to pursue a career as a researcher and writer. If you have any questions or want anymore information, please email for further details (see below).

'I research in quite an eclectic way, sourcing inspiration from a variety of different sources, rather than exploring a particular theme. I collate the imagery in a series of patterns and links, creating a visual language, which flows from page to page, like a book conveying the story of the collection. I then collage a series of drawings, annotations, and personal photography that allows the images ‘all to speak the same language’ – this informs sampling and the design development stage'.

[email protected]
http://showtime.arts.ac.uk/helenelizabethspencer

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Kyzen5

Latest Collection

AW Graduate Collection 2012

'My final year collection was textile based, centred around creating fabrics from fabrics. My fabric research saw me source textiles internationally, from sportswear fabrics to more traditional textiles. The idea behind was that through fabric manipulation I wanted to take something preconceived and turn it into an entirely new fabric suitable for a luxury garment. By hand dying then fraying a combination of functional sportswear fabrics and traditional silks and wools, the end result, when stitched together, resembled feathers.

I drew inspiration from Brassai's photographs particularly of 1930's Paris at night. Through his lens he documented the seedier side of Paris; the risque nightlife of the Parisian working classes. He portrayed his subjects of the underworld - writers, artists, pimps and prostitutes without pity or disapproval instead captured how life was lived.
There is a sense of timeless nostalgia and captured life in these photos and later I also found it in the work of photographers like Johnathan Leder, Drew Jarrett and Guy Bourdin. Looking at 1920's perfume bottles and the new look for classic silhouettes as well as Matador's traditional costume for the rich embroidery and textiles. The garments became the result of drinking in all this inspiration and letting it filter through my subconscious into timeless key pieces that I hope will be treasured in the wearer's wardrobes'.