Meet Victoria Archer, one of two winners of the Tu Challenge 21 at GFW21! Victoria’s final major project was inspired by fishing communities around the world, especially in a small community of female deep-sea divers in Korea, called Haenyeo. Read all about how she translated this into her work below!
How do you feel about winning an award at GFW21?
When I found out that I won the Tu challenge prize I was so overwhelmed, it was such an amazing ending to my 4 years at Northumbria and such an honour to have my work recognised by a massive company like Sainsbury's. It was very surreal but I'm so grateful.
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
The most valuable thing that I have learnt at university is that all ideas are possible and to back your own creative self. I feel that when you are really passionate about a project and enjoy each process everything naturally falls in to place. You end up really loving what you are doing and investing your own personality into what you are producing, its hard work but its fun.
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
My final project was inspired by the different fishing communities from across the globe. I was really interested in capturing how people adjust to their environment as well as the different tools and equipment used to reach the end goal of catching fish.
I had a specific interest in a small community of female deep-sea divers in Korea, called Haenyeo and the majestic creatures that they come across every day. I also compared them to the traditional English trawler and how they have evolved over time into modern life. Much of my inspiration also comes from a textile view point where I have a heavy focus on up-cycling and working with scraps of textile waste.
What form does your FMP take?
My FMP is a narrative, from building a brand with core beliefs and values and actioning this into a capsule collection, within this narrative, I conducted research around my launch collection brought this forward into the design of my range and then managed to bring one of my looks to life through a cut and make process. The last part of the narrative was promoting the garments through photography and styling
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
It was really important to me to create garments that would produce little to no impact on the planet. Working sustainably has been a key interest of mine from the start of university and I wanted to prove that exciting clothing can be produced from waste fabric. Therefore I created a woven textile as the basis of my collection which was made up of offcuts of merino wool, organic cotton and bamboo yarn, naturally dyed linens and up-cycled weatherproof jackets from montane. When sourcing these I looked to existing companies that were selling bundles off their textile waste and I used these to create something new.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
Initially, I was using waste products to create small samples and details on clothing I never anticipated creating a whole cardigan made from scrap fabric. I've defiantly learnt that it helps to be experimental, the woven textile that I built almost happened by accident and it ended up being my favourite part of my final project.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away? Do explore any topics like diversity, sustainability or politics in your work?
Sustainability is the main theme that I would hope people took away from my project. I am driven by colour and texture and I wanted to show that sustainable clothing can be an extension of your personality and be be bright and bold which I feel is a common misconception. I also wanted to show that sustainability takes many forms in fashion and I particularly wanted to experiment with using existing scraps and materials and work to build them into something new.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
Because I have such a strong interest in sustainable fashion I'd love to continue exploring different ways we can work to be more sustainable as an industry. With a particular interest in repurposing past clothing. I also have a big passion for independent businesses and handcrafted clothing, and I would like to see that become more mainstream over mass-produced fashion.
Now that you have finished your degree, what's your plan?
My plans for the future are wide open, I'd love to continue designing and illustrating but I am always open to new opportunities, I am excited to see what comes my way!
