May Blog

Hi everyone,

Well this has been a traumatic month! Due to a family bereavement I didn’t get much done over Easter so I’ve had to work hard to get my collection finished for the 18th May, our deadline.

My main problem has been that I’m using very thick leather usually used for bags and shoes, not garments so it’s been hard sewing them together. I’ve also layered the leather very thick on some garments, meaning some hand sewing and lots of broken needles!

A typical week for me now involves getting up at 6.30am, then driving the hours drive to uni, arriving at 8 – 8.30am. Then it’s straight to the sewing room, where I’ll be sewing, making patterns and cutting out pieces from leather. I have a tea break at 11am, and lunch at 12.30 but apart from that I’m in the room pretty much all day. I might have another break around 4pm, then we settle in for late night in the sewing room, where I usually stay until 7.30 – 8pm. Then it’s home, bed, then do the same the next day!

By the time Friday night comes we’re all tired, but we need to spend the weekend working on sketchbooks and our portfolios. It is really frustrating sometimes that people think a fashion degree is easy, because we spend much more time at uni than any other course, and don’t have time for a social life at all; not much late night drinking like most students!!

I now have six leather jackets, four pairs of leather trousers and two pairs of leggings.
I am really pleased with my jackets, as no one was really sure if I would be able to make them without having to compromise my designs, but they have all turned out really well.
One jacket was inspired by plastic inflatable packaging that I found in a box. I covered each small pillow with leather, and sewed it down the back of one of my jackets, showing that inspiration can come from the most unexpected sources!

The biggest disappointment though, was that one of my pairs of leggings was stolen from my studio at university on Saturday 16th May (my birthday!) It’s such a shame, as I don’t have any more of the fabric left, and as I bought it in Tokyo so can’t get any more. I have been desperately searching for more fabric like it but can’t find it anywhere. So now I have to make another pair of leather trousers which I’m really gutted about. I am hoping someone will find a conscience and bring them back soon though!

In June, the University of Northampton shows some of the collections at Graduate Fashion Week in London, and the Derngate Theatre in Northampton. We had a big presentation, then left our collections to be reviewed on Monday, to decide which ones would get on the catwalk, and my collection was chosen to be featured in both shows which I’m really excited about. The NOrthampton show is opening GFW this year, it's the first one on Sunday 7th June so I'll probably see some of you there!

Now I have to get on with making one more pair of trousers, then sketchbooks and portfolios. Wish me luck!

Roxanne