We’re so excited to share with you the launch of the womenswear collection by Josephine Roberts, the GFF Tu Clothing Womenswear Scholarship winner for 2019.
Josephine has been working hard for a year with the team at Tu Clothing, our headline sponsor for GFF, in Coventry to translate her graduate collection into a 16 piece collection that includes swimwear, knitwear, accessories and more!
Josephine Roberts was introduced to her love and talent for art by her grandfather, which she decided to pursue after leaving school. Whilst completing a Fine Art diploma at York College, Josephine worked in a department store where the beautiful fabrics and designs inspired her to specialise in fashion design.
Josephine’s collection is inspired by the beauty of Cornwall’s natural habitat translated into classic tailoring and fluid garments that portray the harsh yet picturesque coastline. Having graduated from Northumbria University, Josephine won the Tu Womenswear Scholarship at GFW19, and has been mentored by industry design experts throughout the last year to help guide her through the creation of her Tu capsule collection.
Josephine’s collection is available online exclusively through Tu Clothing, you can find the whole collection HERE! and check out more of the beautiful campaign imagery below.
Graduate Fashion Foundation speaks with Josephine on her time at Tu….
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COLLECTION AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT?
My Main inspiration was Cornwall in general. I knew from the start I wanted to base it around there, as it means a lot to me from my childhood. All my life we’ve been going to Cornwall on family holidays meeting up with the same friends and family each year, it’s like my second home. I love it there. Due to my background in fine art. I was playing about with my paints and inks and created a painting of an abstract Cornish landscape. This inspired me to create a dress that would both highlight the research done and the print created from the painting. I would describe my collection as quirky, passionate, colourful, elegant and feminine. It is designed to be fun and wearable for all. I want people to feel themselves when wearing my clothes and not to be afraid to stand out. I would describe it as both casual and formal clothing as it all depends on the persons individual styling.
HOW HAS THE COLLECTION EVOLVED SINCE THE GFW 2019 SHOW?
At GFW I presented two different collections with two different prints to TU clothing. Therefore when starting to develop the collection, we decided to merge the two collections into one, including different details from both. Because both had slightly different colour palettes we decided to create a new range of colours, including some of the original colours but changing certain tones to sit better together as a whole. Because TU clothing is a commercial brand we worked hard on creating new and exciting shapes from my original line ups. This was a really interesting process, working alongside Tu designers to create a commercial version.
ARE THERE ANY DESIGNERS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOUR DESIGN AESTHETIC?
One of my Favourite designers is Dries Van Noten. I’ve loved his work since college. “I want to show reality”- Dries Van Noten (May 13, 2015) His collections always have such presence and beauty. Mixing prints with texture. Structure with soft. A true artist in my opinion. My favourite collection was his SS16 RTW collection, due to his bold choices in fabrics. I adore the prints and layering of the garments, it was such a statement collection in my opinion.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED FROM THIS PROCESS?
Listen and take onboard everything you can from experienced professionals. As a new designer starting out in this world. I know nothing other than what I like and from the little experience I already have. But by talking and taking in others experiences and comments, you grow so much as a designer and a person. Knowledge is power and it can help guide you into not making mistakes or taking bigger risks.
WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST?
Getting my first samples back in the correct colour/print and seeing them for the first time on a model and then refining the product further. The feeling was amazing.
WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND HARDEST?
Giving up designs and making a decision on what to keep and what to develop further. At the start I designed a whole range of different garments but due to timing and fabrications I needed to cut and change things around. I found this process difficult as i loved everything as is but working with the teams really helped as they explained different products/fabrics work better for different times of the year. Something that sounds so obvious now, but at the time it wasn’t something I ever had to think about.
TELL US ABOUT THE TEAMS AT TU THAT YOU HAVE WORKED WITH.
Due to the collection having a wide range of different products. I worked with a whole range of different teams. They were all amazing at guiding me through the process. There was a lot to learn all at once, therefore I am very grateful for all that they have done for me. I believe you can really see how hard we’ve all worked on this collection as it truly looks beautiful.
WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE HAVING AN ESTABLISHED LFW DESIGNER AS A MENTOR?
It was an amazing opportunity to meet ‘Tata Naka. They gave me amazing lifelong advise, and made me very excited for my future. Getting their feedback through the prosses was very useful, as they have had years of experience in the high-end industry and also built there business from the ground up. They are two very strong and inspiring women and like myself produce colourful, bold and elegant designs. I feel very privileged and honoured for their time and advise they gave me.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE STANDOUT, MUST-BUY PIECE FROM YOUR COLLECTION?
I’m in love with all my pieces. Mostly my looped knit throw on cardigan. As I just love the soft feel and the colours in the yarn. It’s so fun to wear and dance around in. I also love the printed statement dress and my structured bag, which I originally designed and made at uni after I graduated.
