This weekend fellow blogger Sarah (Daisychains and Dreamers) and I went to Enliven 2014.
It’s a project in Eastleigh which partners local artists, designers and charities to create innovative fashion. There was a runway collection from The Sorting Office (a creative space for new designers), The Enliven Project (local designers were paired with local charity shops to make new creations out of donated clothes) and Southampton Solent (their amazing graduate collections).
Here’s my highlights from the three separate sections…
The Sorting Office
Enliven Project
A great tie dress by Hermione Bressloff
Baoqian “Queenie” Chen reworked clothes from CLIC Sargent
Clare Jefferson-Jones and Amber Jefferson-Grant created a Birds of Paradise collection
Andrew Nield used Oxfam items such as coins, forks and sheet music to make this incredible cloak and cuffs
Southampton Solent graduate collection
As you’ll notice from the below collections (my favs) there was a lot of printed silk, mesh cutouts, and triangular waterfall pockets. Is this a sign of things to come? I hope so! There were loads of great designers I haven’t included as otherwise you’d be here for hours, but hopefully this’ll give you a feel for how talented the Solent fashion students are.
Hannah Rogers – tree printed lilac silks with fur additions
Hannah Thomas – a standout collection
Hannah Thomas – every single item had a ‘statement back’ – brilliant!
Leila Alloush – cut outs and glittery fabrics
Jessica Harding – super bright printed silks
Jessica Harding – super bright printed silks
Jessica Harding – super bright printed silks
Maija Richardson – so Scandinavian!
Jay Shah – yes to pastel socks!
Jay Shah – structured pastels
Sarah Mac Crossan – super bright and structured
Lauren Richards Smith – the monochrome take on printed silks
