Lucy Jackson is a recent graduate of the De Montfort Contour Programme. TLP interviewed Lucy via email over April and May of 2008. Q: How did you end up at De Montfort?
A: My lifelong ambition has been to work within costume design, which lead me to DMU to focus on corsetry and garments that relate closely to the body.
Q: How was the programme at DMU?
A: I had a wicked three year course at DMU studying contour fashion and received first class honours.
Q: Did you take part in student competitions?
A: I had various competitons set to the year by industry, where I came third, second and eventually first.
Q: Were you able to do any internships or work placements?
A: I managed to gain work placements at Amanda Wakeley, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and George at Asda, and also helped at the Amanda Wakeley London Fashion Week show the other year.
Q: Did you complete a senior project at DMU?
A: I did complete a senior project. The changing silhouette of the past and of today has predominantly been a result of the body-distorting garments we wear, and have worn in order to please society or our own ideals. It is this intrigue that has lead me to delve deeper into the realms of control over another person, or another form – especially the inanimate.
The ideas of restricting the body and playing with proportions are mixed with literal implications of the puppet, strings seen by vertical stripes and cording techniques, and separate limbs and ball joints reflected in dividing panels emphasized by contrasting boning channels.
Photos from Katherine Jones
Q: What have you been doing since graduating?
A: I finished Uni last June/July, and after a lot of thinking I decided that I wasn’t going to head straight into the fashion industry from Uni. I want to carry on my studies in an MA Costume Design course. As tuition fees were a little out of my range straight from Uni I decided to move home, and work various jobs to earn the money.
Q: Have you stopped working in fashion?
A: I am keeping my finger in the contour/fashion industry, with such opportunities as Alternative Fashion Week. I have been selected to show my collection, so I am currently trying to get everything sorted for that – bit stressful.
Q: (After AFW) How did the show go?
A: AFW was great — stressful but all good. Things are very busy at the minute, following the success of AFW I am in the research/design process of a new collection which takes great inspiration from the 1920s, so I am exploring further into past fashions and broadening my knowledge of historical dress. With busy days I mainly work on my collections in the evenings and weekends – which often means some sleepless nights, but hopefully it will all be worth it
Photos by Paul Tait from the Fashion UK coverage of the 2008 AFW in London.