GRADUATE COLLECTION 2022

My final collection was inspired by the Scottish herring lassies who travel down the east coast of the UK alongside their husbands at sea. They were responsible for gutting the fish that were caught, knitting the fishermen’s jumpers, and making & repairing the fishing nets.  However, due to the introduction of plastic within the industry now, these nets are made of synthetic materials and cannot be easily repaired. This means they are discarded by fishing boats and left in the sea creating a huge issue of ghost nets. These are a huge environmental issue, trapping ocean wildlife and releasing toxins into the sea. 

This has inspired me to try and eliminate any pure plastics from my collection, and make it as sustainable as possible. I am collaborating with Ghost Fishing UK to use salvaged ghost nets and ropes within my collection to raise awareness about this issue, and find a life for the nets once they have been taken out of the sea.

I used discarded materials such as tarpaulin, and an 1970s silk army parachute to create my tarpaulin coat. I was inspired by the billowing sails of the herring ships, and the materials used in the fishing industry today. The coat also features a channel around the waist within which is a peice of discarded rope from industrial fishing nets.