e easily categorised and organised into specific labeled boxes just as we are unable to do with men and I think it’s about time we addressed this trough the medium of Fashion design. By using the traditional technique of knitwear, practised by women through decades I aim to represent the more traditionalised ideals of female identity that is often attached to the craft and juxtapose this singular notion with representing the contrasting sexual side that also forms part of our unique identities. I Aim to represent this side of being female through the use of hosiery as a suggestion of skin to represent our natural and true naked form and our right to chose when we want to sexualise this. I want to discourage the immediate and only association of, for example an exposed breast equating exclusively to the idea that ‘she wants sex’. My collection aims to embody choice, honesty, personal identity and liberation.

Throughout the process of designing this collection and finding ways to visualise my message, I sourced “nude” colours of tights varying from dark to lights and stockings to symbolise skin. Im in the process of creating fabric combination samples for my collection and throughout this process I have been exploring largely the technique of linking my knits onto tights and stockings to suggest skin and create panels of transparency and gathering within my designs. By using the hosiery I am also able to create elasticity to my knits which can be pleasing and unexpected in knitwear. I have collaborated with alternative hosiery company ‘Nubian Skin’ as to be racially inclusive in my designs. The hosiery I use was supplied to me by Nubian skin who make hosiery for women of all colours.

This collection embodies traditional elements of Machine knitting whilst at the same time giving my designs a modern feel by at times avoiding traditional linking techniques. Instead I join certain pattern pieces by hand embedding rope into my knits.

This collection aims to not exploit femininity but instead celebrates it in all it’s forms.