Since the age of 4 I have been a dancer, singer and performer taking dance lessons and have also had experience of being part of a girl group. Growing older, I became more fascinated with performing and being on stage and everything that goes with it, specifically the costumes. throughout my journey at university, I found that my dream is to work for celebrities, such as Little Mix, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, designing tour costumes, music video looks and promotional costumes; this led to the idea of using my ultimate career goal as inspiration for my FMP. Because of my experience in the industry, it helps me have a deeper understanding of the needs, requirements and constraints of a performer.
I will collaborate with a Little Mix tribute act, A Touch of Little Mix, to create a promotional outfit for each member, which will be developed from a chosen album my client’s wish to promote for their personal tour which will commence later this year. The final outcome will include the vision of my clients, as the performers, alongside of my own extensive research and ideas as a designer.

Constitutional Radicalism is political and social justice in society but to me it stands for the justice for women in society. It is the fight that began in 1903 with the suffragettes that is still relevant over 100 years later in 2019.
One may hear the word feminism and immediately think of radical women chaining themselves to the railings outside parliament, preaching their hate for the male species and expecting the world to fall at their feet. When the true definition of a feminist is someone who believes in the social, economical and political equality of the sexes.

The aim for my final major project brief was to design two outfits to coin-side with the ‘Votes for Women’ sash that was part of a collaboration for the xCHANGE Festival 2019, taking place at BCU between 1st-28th March. This year being the second festival for the xCHANGE team, they wanted a sash to represent women and equality to be worn throughout the month by members of staff around BCU campus. Alongside the sash, I planned to curate the two outfits for a short film about the Suffragettes march for women’s rights. I chose to base my final major project on the suffragettes and feminism because even today in 2019 there is still issues being faced by women all over the world where misogynistic men belittle women’s rights. Personally, I have been affected by such issues in the past despite growing up in a strong female orientated family which gave me an emotionally strong connection to constitutional radicalism as my chosen subject matter.

This final major project was a bespoke bridal based project, to create an artistic, contemporary and elegant capsule collection as the final outcome. I have always wanted to blend the art and fashion worlds. The degree course at BCU included a dissertation which developed my understanding and thinking about how to achieve a balance between art and fashion.The opportunity to create a bridal collection allowed me to achieve my aims.It has stretched my skills and supported me on a design journey.
I have always had a passion for sculptural art. My preferred medium is glass and I decided to seek a collaboration with a sculptural glass artist. This local artist Julie Dean, has supported me in terms of design, crafting bespoke glass elements for the dress and thinking about a small business opportunity.
Snow, ice and the aurora borealis ( the Northern Lights ) act as the inspiration for my concept. Ice and snow can be represented through the glass elements and the potential to create a visual illusion of the borealis is offered by the glass and its interaction with the surrounding light source .
Alongside the design process I have written a business plan, ‘Camilla Elizabeth’ to establish the viability of a small business. My research allowed me to focus on who my clients would be. I have named my clients ‘Modern Millies’; who are affluent youth consumers, aged between 24-32 who subsequently fall into the generation titled ‘Millennials’.
My passion for creating unique, elegant, designs for the Modern Millie has been enhanced through the blending of sculptural glass and elegant fashion design. Each piece of glass is individual and links with my concept as snowflakes are all unique, as are the Modern Millie.
The potential opportunity to collaborate with other creatives ( artists, jewellers, sculptures) also evolved from thinking about the business plan and creating a space to connect my bridal designs with art is very exciting.

Gilded - covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint.
Anguish - excruciating or acute distress, suffering, or pain:

My concept for this project stemmed from my research into the lyrics of the song ‘Black and Gold’ by Sam Sparro. There is mention of Apes climbing down from trees and fish swimming out of oceans, but why? Deforestation. Pollution. Caused by mining and industry. Our planet is suffering, yet we continue not to acknowledge it, mentally covering the issues with a metaphorical layer of gold. Only seeing the positives on top, whereas underneath it is dark and dying.
My biggest inspirations for this project came from imagery of the suffering that we cause this world. A bird’s eye view of an area of deforestation created amazing spirals and swirls. The sharp geometric scars in the land where gold mining has taken place. The acidic golden rivers, polluted by the mines. And the stripes of pipelines and chimneys decorating the horizons.
I have really enjoyed this collaboration, and have been very grateful to my collaborator Lene, for the open brief and freedom to think a little outside the box.