This collection is a follow on from my previous graduation collection “The Fisherman Tribe” where the majority of my inspiration was taken from my hometown fishing village and using details and shape ideas from vintage work wear pieces. I have taken my research for this collection down another route of vintage work wear and another place I have lived where the main trade used to be coal mining. Exploring the lives of miners, the environment that they worked in and the clothing and equipment they used and wore. My collection has details of sheer smoke-like knitted pieces layered over work wear silhouettes engulfing the wearer in a smoke-like haze or creating the illusion of layering through hybrid garments.
With a muted colour pallet including a flash of dulled yellow, greyed purple and powdered blue, developed from a mix of marine colouring continued through my fisherman research and the dusty industrial landscapes of the mining industry. I have incorporated these colours in a frantic illustrated “canary bird” print based on the canary bird technique used as a means of survival for mining, the print overpowers through some of the lighter layers being viewed as a dull version of the original.
Feature garments including a fabric manipulated knitted kilt, a hybrid shirt/sweater and an over sized sheer knitted jumper with a large cable knit that gradually smothers the wearer. With the excitement of experimental pieces that are still driven by my need to produce garments that maintain functionality using well considered, balanced fabric combinations that compliment the details.
Created for the modern man who is content with functioning in today’s technological dependant society, but still has a romanticised longing for honest labour and to show pride in his heritage. Fabrics including coated linen, light wools and shiny nylon rib stop to resemble the oily, rough working day combined with soft shirting and fine knits establishing a light and warm spring/ summer collection for 2014.
