Four fashion design graduates proving that sustainability is here to stay

Therese has always felt connected to sustainability, having attended a school in Sweden where she studied ethical fashion design. She believes that growing up on a farm further deepened her connection to the earth. “I spent my entire childhood being outside in the forest,” Therese recalls. “That's where I've gotten my creativity from because I had to be a very imaginative child since we lived in the middle of nowhere.”

Zoe was stunned by the potential of sustainability in fashion during a university project focused on biodegradable underwear. “I care deeply about the environment and the impact that humans have on it, but there's only so much one person as an individual can do,” Zoe says. “Swimwear definitely needs to move in that direction because I'm not sure I want to bring out products which harm the environment.”

In her final collection, Juliet embraced the concept that inclusive sizing not only enhances accessibility but also promotes sustainability. “Our bodies change over time, so instead of constantly buying new clothes, adaptable sizing can make garments more sustainable in the long run,” she explains. Juliet aims to create pieces that people can keep in their wardrobes without worrying about their body size fluctuating.

In his first years of university, Hanwei began to realise the extent of fabric waste in the industry. “I used to go fabric shopping and end up wasting meters of fabric,” he recalls. "That's when I decided to start using deadstock materials." Hanwei would then often make his way down to military surplus dumps where plenty of textiles were waiting to be repurposed through creative experiments.

Juliet had an interest in zero waste long before joining LCF, but her course tutors pushed her to elevate her understanding of sustainability. When given the chance to choose a specific sustainability sector to explore, Juliet opted for the circular economy. “I started delving deeper into current fashion trends and our role as designers in this pivotal era,” she explains. For Juliet, focusing on environmental impact isn't a burden; rather, it's a stimulating challenge. “It’s easy to simply draw a design, but it's harder to draw a design and then think about how can I make this the most sustainably?” she observes.

Talking about the future provokes a mixture of emotions among the graduates. After completing a foundation year before her degree, Zoe reflects on four incredible years of creativity and learning, eagerly anticipating the next chapter. “Before I started the course, I couldn't even tell you how to make a knicker, so the fact I created the collection that I did just feels unbelievable to me,” she admits. Zoe has always aspired to design for herself, making it her goal to embark on a journey to fulfil that dream.

Hanwei confesses to feeling a bit uncertain about diving straight into the industry. “University gave us the freedom to create whatever we wanted, so I'm going to spend the next few years preparing and considering whether to continue studying,” he explains.

Therese, on the other hand, thrives on planning and is determined to develop the brand she created for her final project. “I want to get some more experience in the industry first, so I can learn how different brands do different things, but the future plan is to create Frank at my farm in Sweden,” she asserts. However, the design office might still be based in London, as moving the city’s dynamic energy and creative people to a tiny corner in Sweden might be a challenge.

For Juliet, graduating feels particularly rewarding given the challenges imposed by the pandemic during her course. “I was so terrified in my first year to use a sewing machine, but now I’m completely relaxed,” she reflects. Juliet is not sure yet what she’s going to do next, but sustainability certainly stays on the agenda. “It's a big world out there and I need to see what’s available, but I definitely want to stay a fashion designer and continue contributing to sustainability as much as I can."