UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT

Fashion, architecture, and the development of sculptural three-dimensional form, are long held interests of mine. Making my own garments has developed into a deep-rooted passion, and lead to my applying to the fashion and textiles pathway on the foundation diploma at Central Saint Martins, where I am currently studying.

It was my commitment to improving my abilities in art and design that lead to my decision to leave Eton in 2019 and pursue my A-Levels at Mander Portman Woodward (MPW), where I felt I would be able to place more of an emphasis on my creativity and establish a platform upon which to build up my interest in fashion design. I feel that my experience at CSM so far has taken my understanding of what it means to be a fashion designer to another level. How I develop a project has changed a great deal, and I now enjoy much more freedom with experimentation. I sample and work materially for an extended period, reflecting on this process and letting this and my research guide the design, rather than my preconceptions or first responses. I would say my illustration has became a greater asset too, and over the past few months I have seen my drawings become more ambitious, confident and varied, with stronger lines and a bolder use of colour.

My Deconstructed Object project was one that I felt worked particularly well. I combined a wedding dress and a military jacket, with the wedding dress used mostly as a highlight piece, adding moments rather than overwhelming the garment. The head piece connects with the idea of a gas mask, and overall I would say that the outcome has a utilitarian spirit - this practical side of clothing has always interested me and is something I enjoy exploring. The project opened up the way I am able to design. Rather than just thinking about what a garment is, this piece was more about what a garment can do on the body. For example, I would throw material on the mannequin, see how it fell, then worked inward rather than building outwards. This developing awareness of my relationship to design has informed my choice of courses. For me, there has been a realisation that menswear is not so much about big structure, but more about the internal - about the details and small changes that can make something more interesting. In general these aspects are approached through texture and material - for a current project I applied fire to nylon to create a rippling effect.

My foundation has encouraged me to investigate my artistic vision, and I see the degree courses I have applied to as having a very clear and specific connection to my strongest instincts and ambitions as a designer. It is all about the course content, and the sense of a direction I want to follow. Through my projects I am learning about the complexity of garment design and construction. I am certain that I am improving and growing, and a place on your course represents a chance to work alongside and collaborate with talented students and staff at the highest level, and I know that my creativity will be challenged more than ever before. This is the only way for me to learn how to create distinctive garments that break conventional stereotypes and boundaries, and to be part of a community and industry that influences personal and global issues. I carry an immense passion for fashion design and I want to learn, diversify, and expand my creative vision through studying at degree level.

UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT

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