Degree Show

Gray's School of Art Degree show ran from Friday the 15th of June to saturday the 23rd. The show was very successful. here is my exhibition space shown below. Demonstrating the equestrian theme, with beautiful photography by Louise Carnegie. While the exhibition was running i got some lovely comments and Won the RGU Purchase prize winning £500 as one of my pieces are now in the RGU archives. (The tweed dress shown below on the wall)

Ashley J

Scottish Fashion Awards

So this past Monday I attended the Scottish Fashion Awards in Glasgow to support fellow student's Toni Roddie and Jill MacLennan, Whom were both nominated for Scottish Graduate of the Year Award. 

We seen many faces such as Hilary Alexander, Christopher Kane and Hayley Scanlan. 

I would love to say i was mingling with all the celebs but i wasn't more like being shuttled up to the gods to watch the show. Which was presented but the lovely Alexa Chung, who managed to to keep the light heated atmosphere even if some thing did go wrong. 

When i came to the graduate of the year award, i was sitting on the edge of my seat heart beating so hard waiting to jump up and start screaming when won of our girls won....but it never happened unfortunately. But it was a fantastic night and good experience so now i can say i have attend the scottish oscars as they called it...

Mare Machines

“Humans are enslaved like horses and horses are made into machines”

19^th century riding habits juxtaposed with the contemporary sport of endurance riding creates the basis of my inspiration, while being loosely based around this quote from “Black Beauty”. By incorporating land maps mixed with  costumes and fashion from the Victorian era, my collection has a timeless, hourglass silhouette together with flowing drapes and flattering tailoring. Using a range of lavish fabrics from woven tweeds to quality leathers, has given the garments a sense of classic luxury. Semi-plain cloths and daring colour highlights off-set the woven patterns and create an exciting mix of textures and pattern and an essentially feminine statement. 

So the time has come I am now a fully qualified fashion designer. All that hard work and tears has now left me with a BA(Hons) Fashion Design with first class honours. 

Here are some images from my final photo shoot...


Photographer: Louise Carnegie
Make up: Hannah Sutherland
Hair: Debbie McLeod
Models: Samantha Hair, Fiona Lamont, Iva Sakarova

Libby Walker

So just recently i have discovered an amazing illustrator based in Glasgow - Libby Walker. 

Her stuff is very intricate with a fantastic flair and includes everything i LOVE. She uses land maps and draws on top or laser cuts her designs in to it she has also done laser cutting onto wood. Her designs are very linear and often contained in a circle.  as she Juxtaposes the circle by often using  archatecture as her inspiration and SCOTTISH  architecture at that!

And Guess What she has donated one of her wonderful illustrations to Fashion @ Gray's School Of Art for our Fashion Show Catalogue. Oh aren't we lucky fashionistas! So heres a sneak peak of things to come in the near future. So keep updated as Tickets for the show will be on sale very soon.... 

Please show you support and follow her on her successes 

http://libbywalker.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Libby-Walker/184873418224379

Ashley x

STAG White Junk Pop up Shop

This Saturday past, Aberdeen seen the second Stag pop up shop. Held at Korova   on Bridge street 1-6pm. The theme was "White Junk" so the girls decorated the venue with white junk: old tyres, traffic cones, white walls and the beautiful white collection of dresses made by graduate Sian Parker.

This time the shop was vintage free and full of new and up and coming designers like Heather Grant and Hannah Duncan along with Accessory designers Kelly McAllister with her unique chain mail jewellery and statment pieces. And SOS (Save old Stuff) a unique label which re-uses old jewellery incorporating them into photo frames and wedding bouquets made to order so you can choose your colour scheme and if there was a special necklace or ring you wanted to incorporate to make it more personal. 

There was so many things going on it would take to long to tell you all, but  had a great day I bought a cute little dress from Jaime CJ, some Christmas cards from Alison Bell with some cheeky comments written on them, had my hair styles by profile hair and got a glitter tattoo from Doris. 

Overall it was a good day and I think the Stag girls did well while also selling there "Fawned of" collection of printed t-shirts, jumpers and dresses.

If you weren't there this time, make sure you keep up the STAG Duo to see what there next event will be....

Ashley J

Kevin Morris:  Sculptor

Kelly McAllister 

SOS (Save old Stuff)

Heather Grant

White Junk

So here we go again....ROUND TWO!

The STAG Duo are back with a vengeance with there second Pop- up shop "The White Junk Party" this event will be held at Korova, Bridge Street, Aberdeen between 1-6 pm on the 12th of November. It is £2 a ticket or £3 on the door and can be bought here or at one-up on Belmont Street. it is going to be quirky fashion event showcasing fashion designers, jewellery designers, vintage clothing and the most amazing cupcakes you have ever tasted made by yours truly Hannah Bakes Cakes!! So get your glad rags on and be ready to be style hunted by the in house photographer. This event will be the place to be before a great night out, where you can buy your one off out-fit and get you hair styled by Profile hair for the night ahead of you!

After the last pop up in August was such a success we cant wait for the next one as its going to be bigger and better. 

In August the Girls created the first fashion pop up shop in Aberdeen, showcasing fashion designers Jaime CJ, Laura Sherriffs and STAG's baby sister Fawned Of...which by the way I still want my mustard trousers pleaaaase... . Also on the list of ones to watch are Kiss My Kunst a fantastic t-shirt and accessory designers along with textile brand Feet and Tea mothered by Alison Bell. 

STAG stands for Scottish talent and graduates so the event is also used to promote recent graduates, so Stag see this as an opertunity to exhibit the recent works from Grays School of Art fashion graduates. The collection exhibited below is made by the lovely Carolyn Edmonson, inspired by Scottish fishwives. I wonder who will be next to show at the pop up shop....just keep thinking White!! 

Be there or be Square!!

Ashley J