Member Article

Careers For Graduate Designers Take Off With Events In London And New York

Two graduates from Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) are setting their sights on careers in textile and costume design following a busy few months since leaving college.

21-year-old Shannon Garland from Brotton in Saltburn and Adele Catchpole, 22, from Acklam in Middlesbrough graduated from the university-level campus in Hartlepool in July with first class honours in BA Costume Interpretation with Design and BA Textiles and Surface Design respectively.

Shannon is developing her costume design talents with Seaham-based bridal company, House of Mooshki, with an upcoming trade visit to New York for Bridal Fashion Week and Adele is now pursuing a career as a freelance designer in illustration and surface design.

The talented design duo recently exhibited a collection of their designs at the Great British Sewing Bee at the Excel in London, a textiles and fashion event hosting hundreds of workshops, demonstrations, fashion galleries and catwalk shows.

Shannon’s own collection at the national dressmaking event included ladies riding jackets, and bridal gowns inspired by bridal label Grace Philips from House of Mooshki, where she is employed as a designer.

She said: “I had not been to the Great Sewing Bee event before but I do follow the TV series and I was proud that CCAD wanted to feature my work on display to such a wide audience. As a graduate and designer in the creative industry it is vital to be at national event such as these.”

Shannon has also gained a great deal of experience from attending industry shows during her degree, both at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and White Gallery London trade fairs with House of Mooshki for its Grace Philips range.

She added: “I am really enjoying my job at House of Mooshki and it has allowed me to learn so much and grow in confidence in many aspects of the bridal industry. I’m going to New York next month with for New York Bridal Fashion Week which I’m now super excited about!”

Fellow CCAD graduate Adele, who has featured as an artist with leading UK jewellery designer Tatty Devine and collaborated with international independent fashion magazine, Sunday Girl, was excited about exhibiting at the show.

Specialising in hand rendered illustration and embroidery, Adele’s collection was based around the concept of the psychobiology of plants, with vibrant colours featuring in her range of psychedelic clothing.

She said: “I watched the Great British Sewing Bee on TV and loved the show, so I was honoured to be put forward by CCAD to represent the college in the live event this year and loved seeing my collection on the stand.

“I was able to network with other designers and make valuable contacts with fashion bloggers and industry professionals. As well as my collection I showed my sketchbooks and portfolios, and I hope there will be opportunities to take on more commission work from the show in the future.”

Adele has participated in a number of international trade shows during and after her studies to sell her designs and build on her network of contacts, including New Designers in London, Premiere Vision Designs in Paris and Surtex in New York. She has also collaborated on lead screen printing workshops and a number of embroidery, print and illustration projects, with more exhibitions in place for next year.

The young designer has also commissioned to create paintings and products such as pet portraits, handmade notebooks, jewellery and re-worked vintage garments and is involved in prop and costume making for community art projects and events.

Adele added: “I am working towards developing my bespoke fashion and gift-based products which I sell online and at craft events, creating pieces from my home studio which I hope to expand into a bigger space.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Clapham .