London College of Fashion, UAL is hosting LCF x LCW, an exhibition of footwear, accessories, jewellery, tailoring and fashion artefacts, in Fashion Space Gallery as part of London Craft Week’s 2022 programme of events. We're delving deeper into the craft of each exhibiting course, starting with BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring, LCF x LCW will take place at Fashion Space Gallery between 9-31 May.
We're speaking with BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring Course Leader, Daniel Poulson and LCF Technician, Poppy Graham to get a 360 perspective on the infamous British heritage that is tailoring, and how these traditional practices influence the craft today.
Our prospective tailors at LCF have the power to re-imagine the body through cut and fit, these are fundamental practices which sit at the very heart of the course. We also benefit from the input of practitioners who uphold traditional skills & processes. Giving students these intrinsic tools means that they are then free to disrupt, re-invent and create new traditions for the future.
Bespoke Tailoring in its very nature is a sustainable practice. It engages directly with the client to co-create authentically crafted pieces which have intrinsic value and meaning for the wearer. It's a celebration of slow-fashion with hand-craft processes at the core, often working in natural organic materials like wool. Our students work to eliminate waste by producing objects which have longevity and purpose.
We embrace difference and individual creative expression which enrich both the learning environment & students' creative outputs, through research, material and process. We equip students with the tools to then explore their independent expression through Bespoke Tailoring, to become disruptive traditionalists, who respect craftsmanship by redefining its future.
The Bespoke work on display, demonstrates a beautiful interplay of concept with tradition, where technique and process intersect through shape, form and material.
To me 'craft' means uniqueness, precision, meaning and worth. Creating objects of value which tell a story about the wearer or the collector.
I have always loved creative problem solving, which is what I think initially attracted me to tailoring. As a technician I work closely with students to help them come up creative technical solutions, which is really rewarding. The flexibility of the job and the fact that I am continuously developing a diverse set of skills means I am able to do a wide variety of industry work too. I currently work part-time as a shirt maker on Saville row as well as freelancing for a number of brands.
Understanding the value of how things are made and inspiring innovation is what makes craft week important.
I think people often underestimate the importance of patience and accuracy as well as how much time goes into it.
To me craft means heritage, sustainability, slow fashion, quality, and attention to detail.