MDes Fashion + Textiles GSA

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Graduate Jen Kent for Edition Scotland announced winner of 2016 Scotland Re:Designed New Talent Knitwear Award

To find out more about the award and Edition Scotland

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Graduate Hayley McSporran announced winner of 2016 Scotland Re:Designed New Talent Womenswear Award

Find out more about the award and Hayley here 

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Graduate Tommy Zhong showcases his latest collection at Paris and Shanghai fashion week

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Judy Blane, stylist and accessory designer, inspires and provides advice to design students

“Don't be afraid to take risks.”

“Better to have to many ideas and edit down than not enough.”

“Always keep an eye on the news.”

“Communicating with other people is really useful to your creativity.”

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Funded Places for MDes Fashion and Textiles 15/16 applicants available

The Scottish Funding Council has provided funding for 35 full-fee waivers for postgraduate students at the GSA, for the academic year 2015/16. Scottish residents and EU citizens (not students from the Rest of the UK) are eligible for these places.

If you meet this criteria, you will automatically be considered for one of these waivers when you make an application to the Master of Design in Fashion and Textiles - you do not need to make a separate application.

Ting Wang, 2014

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GSA graduate, Wendy Murray, Brand and Accessories Manager at Bute Fabrics gives great advice to Fashion and Textile students

GSA graduate, Wendy Murray, Brand and Accessories Manager at Bute Fabrics gives great advice to the students; continual learning, personal development, simplification, future focused, dynamic, less fear of failure, solutions driven, collaborative approach, embrace change, see potential!

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Fashion & Textiles Drawing Workshops with Helen Bullock this week at The Glasgow School of Art - great to see her!

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Graduate interview with Hayley McSporran

Why did you decide to go to art school?

I always knew I was going to be involved in something creative as my mum always encouraged me to paint and draw from a young age and art was the only subject in school I had a real interest in. I chose to study Fashion design at Cardonald College for three years. Following Cardonald I gained direct entry into third year BA Fashion Design (Hons) at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen. On completing my Honour's Degree I went on to GSA to do my MDes in Fashion Design. Studying at GSA was great for me as I’m originally from Glasgow. I felt there was much more to explore from the concept of my previous collection so studying the MDes seemed like a natural progression.

What was the best mistake you made when studying?

Making huge mistakes in the design process helped me learn a lot about my own way of thinking and also made me experiment in new ways. A lot of the pattern cutting I was doing felt quite experimental and I would get very deep into certain methods and overthinking a lot when there was a much simpler solution. I learned to take a step back when it felt like it was getting too much and not completely scrap what I was doing (which was very tempting) but look at it in a less complicated way.

What are your favourite memories of being at GSA?

The best memories are being in the studio with friends and tutors laughing our way through the whole year. The support we had from tutors @ GSA was amazing as they really cared about each student individually and  while constantly pushing us to our potential they really allowed the space to be free in our thinking and do what we thought was best.

When did you graduate from GSA and what did you do after graduation?

I graduated in September 2015 and that was when reality hit that I was no longer a student so the panic/pressure set in fast! I had been extremely lucky to be awarded the John Mather scholarship while studying at GSA which allowed me the opportunity to think about doing an internship abroad when I finished studying as I had the financial means to be able to do so. I never got the opportunity to do this before and after travelling around Europe in the summer months of 2014 it was cemented in my mind that I wanted to experience living and working in Europe.

A design assistant internship in the Netherlands at Pauline van Dongen was advertised on a fashion recruitment website soon after I graduated.  I instantly applied as I was familiar with her work and it was exactly the kind of internship I was looking for. I had a skype interview and a week later I got the job so had a month to organize moving my life to the Netherlands !

What are you doing now, and can you describe your average working day?

I’m currently doing a design assistant internship at Pauline van Dongen which is a cross disciplinary design studio that specializes in wearable technology. Working closely with companies from the field of science and innovation, Pauline aims to merge fashion and technology giving life to scientific creations.  My average working day usually consists of concept research and design creation and development, pattern cutting, sewing  and experimenting with new fabrics and innovative techniques and technologies.

What was the last project you worked on, and can you describe your creative process a little?

There are always a variety of projects that we work on simultaneously which means I get to experience a lot of different design processes. As we work with wearable technology the process always differs as you have to balance the technical elements always keeping the importance of aesthetics in mind AND working both factors into fashion garments, which is a challenge but a really nice way to work. All the projects @ PVD incorporate experimental and high-tech materials which involve combining new technologies with traditional techniques to constantly renovate craftsmanship. The work is experimental and there is a lot of freedom to be creative which is great!

What is the best part of your job, and what is the hardest?

The best part of my job is the fact I am so involved within every aspect of the design process from the beginning right through to the end. We are a small studio so everyone has their own individual input and it’s a really nice environment to work in! The hardest part was probably trying to get used to new processes of working. There was so much information to take in at the beginning of the internship as I have no experience with wearable technology. Taking this massive amount of information in and trying to settle into a new country and a new job was pretty overwhelming! But that feeling didn’t last and within a month I was settled.

What are your plans for the future?

I’d love to stay in Holland so I am in the process of looking for more work here as my current internship is temporary. The reality of the situation is when you start out in the fashion industry, the majority of the work is unpaid. I hope to find something that is paid or maybe intern for another design company to gain more skills.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and/or what advice would you give to GSA postgraduate students?

To not give up on doing something you love! Creative industries are tough to get started out in after graduating. I’m determined to keep at it and find my place in it one way or another. My advice would be make the most out of your time studying at GSA by experiencing as much as you can and most importantly of all enjoy it because it is your one chance to work how you want and create something very personal to you.  

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Thank you Paul Smith for visiting Fashion and Textiles at GSoA.

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MDes Fashion and Textiles alumni, Jen Kent, talks to the current students about setting up her Glasgow based luxury knitted accessories brand, Edition Scotland

MDes Fashion and Textiles alumni, Jen Kent, talks to the current students about setting up her Glasgow based luxury knitted accessories brand, Edition Scotland

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Graduate Tommy Zhong, 2015, showcases his first collection since leaving the MDes Fashion and Textiles programme at London Fashion Week. Visit his website to see more.

Tommy Zhong, 2015

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Mairi MacKenzie Research Fellow in Fashion and Textiles at The Glasgow School of Art, hosts Working For Biba, a live fashion event held within the glorious surroundings of David Bailey’s ‘Stardust’ at the National Galleries Scotland. Click here to read more. 

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Graduate interview with Emma McAndrew

Why did you decide to go to art school? And specifically study the MDes F+T at GSA?

I always really liked art at high school, but it wasn’t until I went to college for a year that I discovered my love for textiles. After studying my undergrad at GSA I knew I had more to learn, especially within knitwear and the MDes F+T course offered me the perfect opportunity to allow me to continue to develop my knowledge.

What are your favourite memories of being at GSA?

The people and all the great times we had together while studying, we were like a wee family!

What is the best thing you learnt on the MDes F+T?

Having the confidence to follow my heart, with support from amazing tutors and technicians and learning how to create every aspect of a fully fashioned knitwear collection.

If you could have your time over again at GSA is there anything you would do differently?

I think I would really savour and enjoy every single day as you don’t stay there forever!

When did you graduate from GSA and what did you do after graduation?

I graduated in September 2015 and began writing some children’s knitwear patterns for a small online business. I then moved to Hawick in the Scottish Borders and began working for Johnstons of Elgin in October.

What are you doing now, and can you describe your average working day?

I am currently working as an assistant knitwear designer for Johnstons of Elgin. Everyday is extremely busy with a variety of different aspects, from working on trend boards for SS17, creating specifications for Johnstons as well as private client accounts, measuring garments before being sent out to clients, working with different departments within the mill and meeting with clients as well as archiving and swatching.

What was the last project you worked on, and can you describe your creative process a little?

We are currently in the process of finalizing SS17 colours. Working within a design team is slightly different from having the freedom of doing your own collection. We have to continually communicate with the woven design team in Elgin to ensure both collections will work well together.

What is the best part of your job, and what is the hardest?

I love the variety of the job and being able to see the whole process develop through the mill. I would say having to juggle so many different things on a day to day basis is quite challenging.

What has been your greatest success so far?

Getting a job doing something I love! But also doing the MDes F+T because without that I wouldn’t have felt I had the knowledge or confidence to apply for the job I’m doing now.

Can you describe a moment of failure?

Finishing my masters and wondering where to go from there. I think that uncertainty is the hardest.

What are your plans for the future?

I am at Johnstons until July, so only time will tell!

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Collections by Xinyue Zhang, Tommy Jiaqi Zhong and Hayley McSporran featured in The Herald Magazine, September 26th 2015

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Graduate Open Day - Saturday 28th November

Find out more about studying on the Masters of Design in Fashion and Textiles at our Open Day on Saturday 28th November. Follow this link to find out more and register for the event. 

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Association of Fashion & Textiles Conference held at GSA, 11-12 November 2015