Designer Series, Fashion: Meet Clare Marshall

On New Years day I introduced the Designer Series where we'll be following the progress of an artist jeweler and a fashion design student throughout their studies and beyond, to answer the question "What happens at school and how does one forge a career afterward?" Don't we all wonder what it's really like in the fiercely competitive world of design and how it all works behind the scenes? I'm extremely intrigued by these questions as I'm sure other design lovers are, especially those who are looking for a career in jewelry or fashion design.

And today we begin with fashion. I'm thrilled to introduce Clare Marshall, a 20 year-old second year fashion design student at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK. Northumbria boasts an internationally renowned fashion design program and attracts and nurtures exciting, young talents who do us proud each year at Graduate Fashion Week in London. Clare designs womenswear with a woman's curves in mind, focussing on the waist and taking inspiration from the 1940s era. Mixing true Hollywood glamour with contemporary styling is what she loves to do - and what so many of us love to wear!

Clare shares with us how she came to study fashion:

I've always loved designing. It took me a few years to get into fashion, but I've always loved making things, ever since I was about six or seven. I'd always win the school competitions for drawing, so I decided to take art from there. I did graphics to start with but then realised it was clothes I loved designing, so I took textiles for my A Levels. (Ed. note: A Levels are high school credits in the UK educational system leading to university study. If only I'd had the chance to study textiles in high school!!)

Clare wants to build her own company upon graduating and hopes to learn what she needs during her placement year by working with a small company. She's happy to to receive feedback throughout this series and if you have any questions please ask away!

Let's get into the designs. To start, we've got Clare's hand drawn flat work for the Boden project. Boden is a UK company which sells clothes online and they've asked Northumbria Uni to get their 2nd year fashion design students involved in a design process which will culminate with a representative choosing three students' designs and offering them a work placement for a year. There is also a potential opportunity for the chosen two garments to be produced for the autumn season 2009. How motivating!

Here are Clare's sketches for her Boden collection, all hand drawn (I just adore them):

 

With all of this wonderful design and detail aren't we curious about the colours and fabrics Clare has chosen to bring them to life? That's next, so watch this space for the second post in Designer Series, Fashion coming soon (see the preview in the header image here). And please share your thoughts!

Comments

[Sophie]

Hi,
Just want to say I love the design approach for each of these, they are all feminine yet a lovely strong shape keeping them up to date. I especially like the jackets, the dress (love the bow detail) and the cape. Looking forward to seeing more and well done.
Sophie

[Gemma]

Wow Clare these are fab! Very proud of you, love G x