Hundreds of people will visit Â鶹´«Ã½ Leicester’s (Â鶹´«Ã½) Degree Show, as students showcase their creativity in one of the city’s largest free exhibitions.
Among the visitors will be industry professionals from some of the world’s biggest brands - including ASOS, Sainsbury’s and Next - hoping to scout the next generation of talent.
Final-year art and design students have worked with their tutors to put together a show-stopping exhibition of their finest work, celebrating the culmination of years of hard study at Â鶹´«Ã½.
Taking place across Â鶹´«Ã½’s landmark Vijay Patel Building from Friday 10 to Friday 17 June, the Degree Show will include award-winning work such as Sam Lilley’s footwear design which won two prestigious prizes at Fashanne, and creations that earned three fashion and textiles students a total of £6,000 from The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters.
Design Crafts student will be showcasing a spectacular collection of ceramic knee-high 1970s platform boots in honour of her grandma.
The 21-year-old from Surrey said: “I lost two grandparents during the pandemic and did one big project in their memory, which really helped me with grieving. I now have just one grandparent left and I want to make the most of her by celebrating her while she’s still here.
“My 90-year-old grandma loves Mama Mia and her favourite ABBA song is Dancing Queen, so I chose to represent her through these ceramic boots. I hope that by making them I can bring her a lot of joy.”
To create her boots, Helena made a mould from a beloved vinyl pair she owns. Each one has a different design, all inspired by her grandma’s favourite things - such as hydrangeas, dunnocks and ABBA song lyrics - with some even incorporating hand drawings by her grandma.
Helena's grandma surrounded by the ceramic boots made in her honour
“Our Degree Show feels extra special and important after the pandemic. It’s our first chance to do something on this scale and it will be so rewarding to see all our work come together,” said Helena.
“I only found out about Â鶹´«Ã½ by fluke and when I came to visit, I was literally blown away. The facilities, tutors and atmosphere are second-to-none, and I genuinely feel like I’ve achieved more here than I would have anywhere else. Â鶹´«Ã½ definitely nurtures talent.”
Helena is hoping to be selected to show her work at New Designers soon, and has work experience lined up with textile and fashion designer Sydney Pimbley next.
Sculptural garments combining fine knitwear, rigid leather and copper accents created by Fashion Textile Design student will also be on show.
The 22-year-old from Staffordshire said: “Inspired by military and Samurai exhibitions I visited, I wanted to mimic the concept of armour to protect ourselves from the wars, pandemic and environmental issues going on all around us.”
Rachel’s knitwear designs have earned her a £500 bursary from Â鶹´«Ã½, which she put towards sustainable yarns, and a place in the Fashanne Awards finals.
“I’m grateful for the facilities at Â鶹´«Ã½ and the fact that you can access so many different workshops. I spent a lot of time in metalwork, laser-cutting, 3D printing and using the footwear machines to sew my leather. They’ve enhanced my collection and are great skills on my CV,” she said.
Photography and Video student is displaying six photos taken on her Canon EOS 5D Mark IV using a 24-105mm lens. Inspired by the Hollywood Glamour era, they depict a model replicating studio poses in a modern-day kitchen.
The 20-year-old from Norfolk said: “I shot the studio ones against a red backdrop to suggest that she’s dangerous to love, in a femme fatale sort of way. I then re-shot the same poses in a kitchen, placing my model there not for the chores, but to be powerful.
“I’ve always wanted to do a fashion shoot and coming up with a way to subvert it was really rewarding. I’m excited to display my work at the Degree Show - hopefully it will lead to more people seeing it and contacting me about potential jobs.”
for the latest updates and to hear directly from students showcasing their work.
Posted on Monday 6 June 2022