Skip to content

Second year Fashion Design students create stylish adaptive clothing designs

Alumna Linda Leaver challenged students to design collections for those with physical disabilities

    Linda with the winning students
    Olivia Davis,Linda Leaver, Luci Hulme and Evie Ashwin

    Students in their second year of our BA (Hons) Fashion Design course have created designs to meet the needs of those with physical disabilities through a creative brief set by alumna Linda Leaver. For the third year running, Linda has set a brief for Year Two fashion students, challenging them to develop creative, contemporary and functional designs for adaptive clothing; something she feels is lacking after a stint spent in a wheelchair following a skiing accident.

    Ten students took up the challenge, which included conducting research and user-informed insights to develop a detailed concept for potential onward development. Linda commented on how accomplished she thought the final work was, especially as it had all been developed to a tight timescale.

    After presenting their final concepts to Linda and project tutor Dawn Eyre, the top three concepts were awarded prizes. Olivia Davis was named winner for her concept ‘Glow Through’, and was awarded £5,000. Luci Hulme was placed second for her ‘Glitched Perceptions’ concept, and awarded £3,500. Finally Evie Ashwin was placed third and awarded £2,500 for her concept, ‘Upsurge’.

    Year 2 Fashion Design students with Linda Leaver
    Second year fashion design students with Linda Leaver

    Olivia was overcome with the decision to award her as overall winner and commented on how much this meant to her, especially as it will help her develop her final year collection. She plans to take her project forward into the basis for her final year collection body of work.

    Linda commented on the project, which she has generously created and sponsored for three consecutive years: “I have thoroughly enjoyed this process. Over the last three years it has been a fantastic experience to see the development of new ideas and research. I feel that this year has been the most technically accomplished – you have really taken the concept on board and made great use of social media for research too. The originality of approaches and concepts is very impressive – we are definitely ending the project series on a high.”

    Senior Fashion Design lecturer Dawn Eyre extended her thanks to Linda: “This is the final year of the Linda Leaver project and our second year students have thoroughly enjoyed designing adaptable clothing. We would like to thank Linda for the ongoing support and sponsorship which has helped our students fund their final collections and work placements."

    Later in May it is planned that each of the winning students will make up and show one outfit from their collections.

    Published on 21 March 2018
    • Category: NTU Arts; School of Art & Design