My innate desire to create is further driven by an aspiration to develop originality, imagination, and problem-solving in my work. I am inspired by designer Issey Miyake in his ‘Pleats Please’ collection, where garments embody freedom through dancers’ joyful movement and physicality, and by Vivienne Westwood in one of her first collections, ‘Pirate,’ which establishes her dedication to creating wearable canvases that double as cultural agitators.

 

My motivation for innovative fashion only deepened during my internship at Jim Thompson Bangkok, a high end, traditional fashion company and retailer. I gained hands-on experiences in manufacturing (silk weaving); marketing; and retailing clothes. This culminated in a presentation of my own designs to the Executive Leadership team including the CEO & Creative director. My designs, known as ‘Beautiful Ugly’, were influenced by everyday features of Thai street life - their texture, complexity of form, and sophistication of pattern. I saw how powerful fashion can be in telling a story or addressing a problem, and this is something I aim to continue in my own work.I understand that perfection is the outcome of learning from many mistakes and ‘dead ends’. I am excited by the opportunity to enhance my practical and theoretical understanding of fashion design by experimenting with new and traditional methods; mastering technical skills; and broadening my creative and artistic vision.

 

 

How have your qualifications and studies helped me to study this course or subject? 

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My academic strengths lie in creative disciplines, where I thrive as a creative thinker with a passion for Art and Literature. I am well versed in a philosophy of extracting meaning from text and art forms, which leads me to interpret, question and reimagine ideas that inform my own creative practice. Through the A Level Art and Design course, I have developed the confidence to think beyond conventional boundaries, the patience to accept when things don’t come out as planned and the resilience to alter my pathways (as ‘bad’ art is only unfinished)

 

I have expanded my theoretical knowledge by completing online courses, including a sustainable fashion programme with Copenhagen Business School, furthering my interest in responsible design and strengthening my conviction that creativity and innovation in fashion can and must coexist with ethical production.

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What else have I done to prepare outside of education and why are these experiences useful?

 

Grades are important, but talent also comes from the sum of our life experiences. As a 'third culture kid' and daughter of two teachers, I have developed an intercultural understanding that informs my studies and designs, as growing up between cultures has taught me adaptability, open-mindedness, and curiosity, while my parent's profession instilled in me a respect for learning and critical thinking. Together, these influences shape the way I approach fashion; not only as an art form, but as a way to form connections between diverse perspectives.

 

I have actively led and contributed to service-learning initiatives in the arts, from organising a ‘ring-pull’ collection for impoverished communities in Tondo, Philippines with the Purple Community Fund, to designing sets and props for young children at Curtain Up Studio and volunteering as an arts driven playgroup leader for children of SBS Bangkok.These experiences have given me a sense of purpose and meaning. Fashion designers should see the world through a creative lens, but in my view designs are also informed by the culture and context around us. I believe that an awareness of diverse perspectives and lived experiences will continue to shape and enrich my approach to fashion design.