My final collection to complete my degree in Textile Design explores humanity’s relationship to nature and the ways in which textiles can promote reflection and appreciation for our environment. Urban living makes it increasingly difficult to access green spaces and our busy, fast-paced lives leave little time to slow down and support our wellbeing. I aim to engage the senses and reinvigorate a sense of childlike wonder and joy for the ordinary details present in the natural world.

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I chose conkers as my subject matter and inspiration due to their common presence in urban areas and link to childhood. Their spiky exterior and connection to the seasons became the basis for the collection visually. Photography, sketchbook work and sampling led to a mix-media approach that involves embedding wood and ceramics into my knitted work and combining hand and machine processes. I split the collection into two seasonal moods to reflect the change of conkers late summer to deep winter and early spring.

 

The final exhibition featured a mix of hanging textiles and interactable sculptural pieces with varied scale and consideration of colour, materials and form to make the two sub collections distinct but harmonious and complementary. The collection as a whole aims to uplift the viewer with a sense of playfulness and curiosity and to encourage reflection on our place within the environment we reside.

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Graduate Showcase