NEWS RELEASE: Grand Designs – latest cohort of GSA Fashion and Textile designers unveil collections

March 12, 2019


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Melody Uyanga Ramsay with one of her designs which were showcased on the catwalk today

Forty four Fashion Design and Textile Design students unveiled their 3rdyear collections on the catwalk in the Assembly Hall at the Vic today, 12 March 2019.
The 72ndannual Fashion Show, Contradication, saw the young designers experimenting with opposing qualities in ideas such as:  Absence—Presence, Elite Culture—Popular Culture, Abstraction—Representation, Beautiful—Grotesque, Fact—Fiction, Order—Chaos, Bound—Unbound, Then—Now, High—Low.
Among the designers showing their collections was Melody Uyanga Ramsay. Born to a Mongolian mother and Scottish father “in the dust of horses in Mongolia”, Melody was raised in Scotland. She has recently scooped a prestigious internship with Ralph Lauren in New York, beating global competition from over 2,000 young designers. She is only the second ever intern to be offered the most coveted placement – in the Concept Design department for Womenswear – where she will work with Ralph Lauren’s Senior Designer, Tess Sullivan. She will take up the internship at the beginning of June before returning to Glasgow in the autumn to complete her undergraduate studies.
Talking of her collection Melody said: “My project explores the functionality of Mongolian nomadic living in contrast to today’s luxury accessory industry. I hope to address fashion’s moral status and offer solutions for a more sustainable future.”

Talking off her internship in New York she said: “I’m beyond grateful to have been offered this placement with Ralph Lauren in their Concept Design team. The chance to integrate into such a prestigious brand as a young designer is a dream come true.”

 “The Ralph Lauren Creative Talent team have been beyond welcoming, I look forward to the beginning of a long and rewarding journey with them.”

For full information on the designers and their inspirations see Notes for Editors.

Second Year Fashion design students opened the show by challenging conventional notions of the modest white shirt. This wascontrasted with extreme approaches to garment silhouette, in black. 
Headline Sponsor for Fashion Show 2019 is St Enoch Centre. Anne Ledgerwood, General Manager said:
“Glasgow is known for its flair for fashion and design and the Glasgow School of Art Undergraduate Fashion Show is a fantastic example of the creativity and talent within the city. We’re proud to sponsor the show and support the future of fashion. All eyes will certainly be on the runway.”
Ends
For further information, images and interviews contact
Lesley Booth
07799414474
@GSofAMedia

Notes for Editors

SECOND YEAR 
Fashion Design students
Poppy Brookes Martha Gladwin Xi Ling
Sophie Jenkin Minjae Kim Emma McGauchie Ruth McKillopp Arthur McNair Nicole Norman Jade Perez Harriet Stainthorp Kirsten Webber 
THIRD YEAR
FASHION DESIGN
RACHAEL GIBB, 21, NORTHERN IRELAND 
Worse Things Happen at Sea
Focusing on the hisyroically hypocritical relationship between religion ans rhe devout, impoverished Irish labourer; this genderless collection juxtaopses the workwear of farmers ans fishermen with the ecclesiatical attire of nuns and priests. By combining the effects of onerous manual work on clothing with the opulent drapery and volume of religious garments I have explored the contradiction of elitism versus proletarianism in 19th century Ireland. 
SOPHIE MARSHALL, 21, GLASGOW 
‘Cultivate Masculinity’
Inspired by the 1966 film ‘Daisies’ by Vera Chytilova, my collection takes the societal expectations for women and contrasts that with how they actually want to behave. As an idyllic celebration of breaking out of the constraints that society puts upon them, I have taken the most empowering elements of classic menswear tailoring to create playfully sartorial, feminne garments. When society tries to cultivate masculinity, why shouldnt women join in? 
CAITLIN FRASER, 21, GLASGOW 
‘There are Rule makers and There are Rule Breakers’
Focusing on subcultures of the past who have rebelled against the government and authorities, my collection explores the clashing of these two very different ideologies. 
VALTERS AISPURS,21,RIGA 
Dead End Love
A case study in desire and car crashes.  The story of Dora Maar and her lover, Picasso, their powerful relationship that marked the end of her artistic career. The speed of their love and inevitability of tragic separation portrayed as a car crash. 
MELODY RAMSAY, 20, MONGOLIA/SCOTLAND 
Function v Non-function
My project is exploring the functionality of Mongolian nomadic living in contrast to today’s luxury accessory industry. I hope to address fashion’s moral status and offer solutions for a more sustainable future. 
BEN MCCARTHY,21,GLASGOW 
Menswear collection focussed on the confluence of; chaotic design and ‘individualism’ in urban city spaces, and the natural, free form ideals of solitude in rural, coastal regions.
Exploring the concept of identity in both ideas to create a juxtaposed collection of both chaotic and ordered influences centred around the idea of collectivism vs individuality. 
ISABELLE FERGER, GERMANY 
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!
My collection combines the functions and dysfunctions of melting different outdoor activities with fashion. Driven by the hunger for new adventures I did create an energy that pushed my designs out of my comfort zone. I used a variety of reclaimed materials besides fabrics with my own prints. My garments do capture the moments of function and dysfunction within my design and realisation process that were essential to lead to the final pieces for my Dysfunctional Couture Collection. 
ZOE WARD,21,BRIGHTON 
Nostalgia
Celebrating powerful silhouette, colour and pattern, this collection reconsiders classic cutting and heritage fabric. Inspired by the contradicting aspects of American culture, I have explored sentimentality and familiarity as well as the expendable. References to Prairie dress and American football culture playfully sit together to evoke these contradictions. 
TEXTILE DESIGN: PRINT
NEAVË MCCORMICK, 20, RENFREW 
Drawing inspiration from the contradiction of order vs chaos, my work explores how pattern, colour, texture, and shape can be manipulated to interact with these opposing ideas. Working from large scale multimedia drawings and paintings. I’m interested in exploring how to make an impact though playing with scale in my final collection. 
RACHEL TOYE, 20, CUMBERNAULD 
Working from the neglected side of Cumbernauld Town Centre, my collection experiments with unconventional printed textile techniques to translate the bold decaying textures onto fabric. Exploring mark making and accidents to mimic the deteriorating qualities of the brutalist ‘Worst Town Centre in Britain’. 
CHLOË CHARLETT,21,CHESHIRE  
My project explores the contradiction of indulgence and frugality, creating illustrative, over the top printed garments. Working from images taken in supermarkets, of food, sale items, signs, and other ‘everyday’ objects, questioning whether what we buy are things we want or need. The aim was to create a fun and almost tacky collection, with the use of bright neon colours and clashing patterns, resulting in a domestic/ dinner lady look. 
ELLEN MARTIN, 27 WEST LOTHIAN
A collection of printed textiles for fashion with a Japanese influence. The repeat patterns were developed from drawings and collages inspired by corals and anatomical specimens. A variety of printing techniques were used, including screen printing, foiling and sublimation printing. 
TIPSUKON COCHCRANE, 22, THAILAND 
My printed dress collection has taken inspiration from photographs I took of flowers. The colour palette I choose to work with is strong and fresh, combined with large scale shapes which I feel it will be eye-catching on the catwalk. I also enjoy experimenting with layers, and playing with the overlapping of colours to create my final design. 
RYAN KYLE, 21,IRVINE 
Colour in the dark: My printed textile collection is initially inspired by the dark spaces that are lit up with some amazing fluorescent light. The styling and shapes of the garments has been focused around my own sense of style and is a heightened version of what I wear day-to-day. My work has a specific – go full pelt – attitude which speaks volumes as I like to push the boundaries of how I can create prints and use colour in an interesting way. 
TIPSUDAR COCHCRANE, 22, THAILAND 
The design of the buildings and amount of details on the building gave me ideas and concepts behind this project, which I have develop further using my photographs and sketches. This inspired me to research and explore the repetition of patterns, shapes, forms and colours of architecture. By exploring these elements I will be working towards producing a collection of printed textiles for fashion garment and use in a contemporary way as I want my final piece to reflect the modern lifestyle of living in the city. 
LUCY BROADFOOT,20,TROON 
My collection is inspired by the contradiction of old and new. My old high school recently got an extention and added a entirely new building alongside the original built in 1935. The three printed garments are based around a series of photos from the school. 
HARRIET ROUS, 20, NORTH HAMPTON 
Through the use of traditional and digital printing techniques, I focus on the contradiction between open and confined natural spaces. My collection explores the textures and light that exist within these spaces, through the experimental combination of materials, pattern and colour.
TEXTILE DESIGN: EMBROIDERY
ANNACASEY,20,STRANRAER 
Exploring contrasting colours which stemmed from astrology colour theory of the contrasting sign, Gemini. Combining digital and traditional embroidery techniques to create 3D textile textiles. 
KATHRYN JOHNSTONE, 22, KILBARCHAN 
An embroidered collection based on the idea of ‘One mans trash is another mans treasure’. I was heavily influenced by loca- tions in and around glasgow that have hidden ‘treasure’, such as antique shops, salvage yards and charity shops. Opting mainly for alternative materials such as acrylics, wood and discarded jewellery, rather than fabric, to emphasise the idea of turning something forgotten and unused into something exciting. I have explored a vibrant colour palette and developed the shapes within my research to create a high impact and fun woman’s wear collection. 
KATY CLARK, 22 CHICHESTER
Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. The heavily decorative tradition of this festival has inspired my fashion show collection along with further imagery that I had captured while on exchange in Tokyo this year. Bold structures, kaleidoscopic patterns and traditional techniques will combine in the creation of my garments and accessories. I will be primarily creating structural pieces for headwear. 



ROSIE SHRIMPTON, 20, ESSEX 
Order vs Chaos. This collection was inspired by mechanical imagery and metal. From looking at my research I decided to focus on circles using different materials. I explored how they looked in ordered, structured layouts and also clustered together in random placements. 
EMMA JONES, 22, NORTHERN IRELAND 
My collection is inspired by the visual qualities and contrasts of movement and stillness I found while travelling through a range of landscapes and cities by both day and night. I explored this theme by creating tactile, textured and kinetic textiles using a range of embroidery and embellishment techniques with a focus on a colour palette that captures the bold blur of quickly passing lights and signage. This collection translates the sensory experience of movement into textile form. 
KELLY SLOAN,21,GLASGOW 
The contradiction within my project is between different qualities within certain objects. I have explored this concept focussing on intense colour and textures surfaces. I will present these features in my final collection through the use of mixed media embroidery including hand and machine skills throughout. 
TEXTILE DESIGN: KNIT
MILENA STEPIEN, 26, POLAND 
Knitted dress collection inspired by still life made of man-made and organic objects. The aim of the collection was to illustrate coexistence of two different worlds: fragile lace structure representing the 
organic and geometric shapes representing the man-made. 
EMALIE CHRISTENSEN, 22, DENMARK
Finding inspiration in nature and the visible growth of trees, this collection is a combination of organic sur- faces and the structured nature of knit. This collection seeks to combine opposites in both inspiration and final outcome playing with the ideas of organic and structured as well as soft and heavy. 
GRANT CAMERON, 37, OUTER HEBRIDES 
I started my collection by making a still life, which was basically the inner workings of an old DVD player and an extremely ancient laptop. The ‘ordered’ shapes on the individual circuit boards inspired me to create a multitude of different designs and the surprisingly wide variety of colours I found inside these everyday objects became the basis of my colour palette. For my finished garments, I used various traditional knit techniques and combined them in a more unconventional manner. 
MARTA LUNA ANGELINI, 22, MILAN 
The contrast between wavy shapes and straight lines is the main concept of the collection, inspired by clas- sic Greek architecture and sculpture which combines strict proportions and harmonic monumental bodies. 
ELLA FLETCHER, 20, HAMPSHIRE 
A collection motivated by structured forms in the natural environment, looking at how contrasting areas of flat and three dimensional shapes manipulate the fabric. 
TEXTILE DESIGN: WEAVE
NICHA WATTANAPONGSIN, 21,THAILAND 
The collection is inspired by the contrary of structural objects and the uncertain conditions (the state
of fluidity and movement). Weave structure captured the temporary and changeable qualities of water surface. In, contrast, the juxtaposition of solid and block colour is to translate layers of transparency on the flowing liquid surface. 
JONNY MACKINNON, 30, GLASGOW 
Interested in the visual tension between negative and positive space within the cityscape. I explored this using scale and depth, shape and colour, texture and surface, attempting to create work with uneasy compositions, assessing how colour is visually manipulated dependant on what colour or shape it is sat beside. Contextualised within the work of the Bauhaus, I envisioned an experimental woven fabric of differing colour and surface texture. 
ANNA SMITH, 22 EDINBURGH
Woven collection inspired by the beautifully grotesque focussing on the human body. Using weave to recreate the grotesque nature using “beautiful” fabrics and ribbons. 
ISABELLE MURRAY,21, BRIGHTON 
A series of woven fabrics with inspiration deriving from the linearity of
mushrooms. From the curve of the surface to the dense repetition of the gills, the collection combines these pattern regularities with highlights of naturally-found iridescent colours. 
RUBY GARDNER, 22, NORTH YORKSHIRE 
My observations of Japanese Gardening led me to consider the tactility of the human hand. I had previously viewed our relationship with nature as invasive; I thought of pesticides and felling. Yet in Japan I experienced a feeling of tenderness and respect for the landscape. The damage caused by the typhoons was fixed with bandages, crutches and carefully tied knots. The trees were patients and the gardeners were nurses. 
PHOEBE MARSDEN, 20, CHESHIRE 
The inspiration for my collection was the contemporary urban architecture of Manchester and the sky at dawn and dusk over the Cheshire rural landscape. I was inspired by the striking blue, pink and orange tones of the sky. I have experimented with texture and thickness of yarns in both my warp and weft.