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Fashioning products with human hair tells student’s story of alopecia

A fashion knitwear student who developed alopecia in her late teens has created a range of headpieces embroidered with human hair to raise awareness of the condition.

    Fleur web.jpg
    Fleur Scott
    Image supplied by Fleur Scott

    Fashioning products with human hair tells student’s story of alopecia

    A fashion knitwear student who developed alopecia in her late teens has created a range of headpieces embroidered with human hair to raise awareness of the condition.

    Fleur Scott, 23, wanted to create a concept range of head pieces and garments – rather than something available to buy in the shops – to support others with alopecia.

    The Nottingham Trent University fashion knitwear undergraduate used hair donated by a friend and incorporated a pattern she designed based on the circular patches that can be seen when someone loses their hair or experiences irregular growth.

    “Having been diagnosed with alopecia at 18, this was a pivotal time for me in finding my identity and removed all elements of my femininity beyond my control.

    “I hope that these pieces help other sufferers from this condition see the real beauty in themselves,” said Fleur, from Walthamstow, London, who also researched the five stages of grief to inform her designs.

    “I hope that the tactility and textile qualities of the pieces identify the emotional pain of hair loss, but also an alternative beauty and stand as educative statements to anyone who may not have experienced the emotions that hair loss puts a person through.

    “But by shaving my hair at 19, I reclaimed my femininity and learnt that true beauty is not skin deep. So I wanted to show the beauty that can be seen in the hair loss process, and that the most beautiful stage is acceptance and being your most authentic and truest self.”

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    Fleur in one of her headpieces

    Fleur’s designs will go on public display for Nottingham Trent University's Art and Design Student Showcase from 16 July this year.

    Ian McInnes, Principal lecturer in Fashion Knitwear Design at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Fleur has taken her personal experience with alopecia and communicated it through fashion to support others with the same or similar conditions.

    “Her designs blur the lines between high-end couture fashion and fine art wearable sculpture, and evoke the emotional pain experienced in the hair loss process, but how that can become a catalyst for discovering an inner beauty too.”

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      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards. The award was based on performance and improvement in the Guardian University Guide, retention of students from low-participation areas and attainment of BME students.

      NTU was also the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2017, and The Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2018. These awards recognise NTU for its high levels of student satisfaction, its quality of teaching, its engagement with employers, and its overall student experience.

      The university has been rated Gold in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest ranking available.

      It is one of the largest UK universities. With nearly 32,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across four campuses, the University contributes £900m to the UK economy every year. With an international student population of more than 3,000 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook.

      The university is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable NTU to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was awarded University of the Year in the UK Social Mobility Awards 2019.

      A total of 82% of its graduates go on to graduate entry employment or graduate entry education or training within six months of leaving. Student satisfaction is high: NTU achieved an 87% satisfaction score in the 2020 National Student Survey, above the sector average of 83%.

    Published on 16 July 2020
    • Category: Press office; School of Art & Design