Playful, Expressive and Intuitive: An interview with Boden’s Childrenswear Award Winner
An Interview with the winner of the Childrenswear Award 2026, supported by Boden: Anabel Gilgallon from Northumbria University.
Anabel is a recent BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Marketing graduate from Northumbria University with a passion for creating playful and meaningful Childrenswear. Her graduate collection, ‘Let’s Go Camp!’, was developed for her Childrenswear brand, Jinx & Juno. She combines references from vintage American scouts with memories of her Grandma’s time as a Girl Guides leader. The collection explores themes of community, adventure, and childhood curiosity through mark making, playful silhouettes, and mixed-media prints.
What unexpected source influenced your final outcome?
“Throughout the development of this collection, I was continuously working in an A6 mark-making journal that ended up being a huge source of influence for my final outcome. The purpose of the book was to experiment with colour, texture and different media in a carefree and intuitive way. I treated this approach as an opportunity to explore freely on a small scale, sometimes closing my eyes or using my non-dominant hand to apply a range of techniques with varying levels of pressure. This removed any expectations to create something perfect and instead allowed for some unexpected yet exciting results. The pages became a rich source of inspiration for my print designs. By playing with scale, layering and colour, these abstract experiments were transformed into mixed-media prints that captured the spontaneity and curiosity of the collection. The process mirrored the uninhibited creativity of a child putting pen to paper and became one of the most enjoyable and influential parts of my design journey.”
What’s the best piece of creative advice you’ve ever received?
“Creativity thrives when you stay curious and take risks; some of the most exciting outcomes start from unexpected mistakes!”
How would you describe your creative voice in three words?
“Playful, Expressive and Intuitive.”
What kind of impact do you hope your work has beyond aesthetics?
“Beyond aesthetics, I want my work to create meaningful experiences that bring children and families together. Community is at the heart of the brand, and I hope each collection sparks conversations, shared experiences and moments of joy between our children and families, making our garments feel like part of a greater story. I hope to continue to celebrate a sense of belonging, curiosity and togetherness that comes from childhood experiences; Inspiring families to engage in storytelling and discovery, creating memories and fostering a sense of community that extends beyond the garments themselves.”
Which designer, artist or creative would you most like to show your work to?
“I would love to be able to share my work with Julia Donaldson. My childhood was built on her stories, characters and the worlds she created. That sense of wonder and curiosity has never really left me and has had a significant influence on my decision to pursue Childrenswear design.”
What conversations do you hope your work starts?
“I hope my work starts conversations around the value we place on clothing and how garments can carry stories across generations. My aim for Jinx & Juno has always been to create beautifully and responsibly made clothing that is designed to be loved, lived in and proudly passed along. A key inspiration behind the brand was to embody the excitement of receiving a piece of clothing that you’ve been eagerly waiting for your turn to wear. Whether it belonged to an older sibling or friend, those garments often felt special because they already carried their own stories. I wanted to celebrate that feeling and challenge the idea that something must be brand new to be exciting. Whether it’s a new piece purchased from one of our new collections or a much-loved garment from an older collection that’s been passed down, receiving a piece from Jinx & Juno should spark the same sense of anticipation and joy.”
What advice would you give to a student currently starting their final collection or portfolio?
“Be bold and trust the process. Experiment as much as possible and allow yourself the freedom to test your boundaries. Often, some of the strongest outcomes start from unexpected directions; it’s the happy accidents that lead to the most exciting ideas.”
So what’s next for you after graduating?
“Following Graduate Fashion Week, I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my own design handwriting and exploring opportunities within the industry. Graduate Fashion Week has been an incredibly rewarding experience and has given me opportunities I never would have imagined. Having the chance to present my work to industry professionals and receive feedback has been an invaluable experience, one I know will be hugely beneficial as I begin my career. It has been an incredibly inspiring start to life after university, and I’m excited to see what comes next!”
