Talented first year students from Leeds Beckett University’s new BA (Hons) Fashion course are hosting their first public exhibition, ‘The Shirt’.
The showcase will run in the reception of Broadcasting Place at the University’s City Campus from Monday 26 January until Friday 6 February and will display a range of the undergraduates’ innovative garment designs.
Their brief was to create a white shirt that contains a two-piece collar, pockets, plackets, a yoke, sleeves, cuffs and tucks.
Course Leader, Katie Lenton, explained: “The exhibition is a reflection of the creativity and individuality of our students, who have fully embraced the concept of the project. They have each designed and produced an original white shirt, all of which have been finished to an industry standard. Everyone is welcome to celebrate with us at the special exhibition viewing on Thursday 29 January from 5-7pm.”
Student Sehar Hussain, aged 20, who hopes to work with a design house in the future, before running her own fashion label, said: “My design consisted of two layers, an undergarment which was a fitted bodice, and a top layer which was loose fitting.
“The batwing style sleeves have been left open at the armhole and are closed at the cuffs. I chose to have a normal button stand for the undergarment and a concealed placket for the top layer in order to give the shirt a simple finish to go with the batwing sleeves.”
Speaking about her time studying Fashion so far, Sehar added: “The best thing about the course is that it covers various aspects of fashion including hand designing, pattern cutting, construction and computer aided design. What’s more the tutors have first-hand industry experience.”
Emily Isherwood, 21, said: “I designed a simple long shirt that features a two-piece collar which extends out to create a bow fastening at the centre front, inspired by my favourite designers Viktor and Rolf. It also has two side seam pockets, a tuck in the back, a yoke and sleeves with cuffs.”
Emily added that while she is keeping her options open, there are two career paths in particular which appeal to her.
“I think becoming a pattern cutter or a buyer for a company would both be potential avenues for me to explore,” she said. “I’d like to take a year out in industry after my second year and split the year into two, doing six months buying and six months pattern cutting. This way not only will I gain hands-on experience, but it will help me choose which specialism is right for me.”
Nineteen-year-old Jessica Barker-Gilholme, said of her shirt: “My design has oversized leg of mutton sleeves (puffed sleeves), long tight-fitting cuffs and princess seams making it very fitted in the bodice. It also has a very large pointed collar to contrast the puffy sleeves.
“To help me with the construction of the garment I referred to the construction journal I had kept when attending the workshops and producing the samples. This really helped me when making my shirt as I had all the notes and information I needed to produce the design I had created.”
Speaking about her career aspirations, Jessica said: “My main goal is to become a designer and have my own label; however before that I would love to be an in-house womenswear designer and travel the world to gain as much experience and knowledge as I can on fashion to help me become a better designer.”
The BA (Hons) Fashion course was launched in September 2014.
