Sponsored by
Petal Power
Blossoming talent Laura Hepworth has come up with a cutting edge collection that is certain to grow on you!
Laura, 22, of Westmorland Avenue, Blackpool, was one of 20 fashion students from University of Central Lancashire to have their final collections modelled on the catwalk at Graduate Fashion Week, London.
And with fashion's top talent scouts, press and media out to spot the big names of the future, Laura is hoping her version of flower power will be picked out for review.
Her stunning collection, of unique but very wearabl, clothes for women grew from an unusual source.
"It's called Bee Botanical and was inspired by beekeepers, the big hoods and protective clothing they wear, and flowers.
"I used hundreds of real pressed flowers for the surface designs including roses, larkspur, pansies."
Using the finest fabrics – duchesse satin and organdi – Laura's aim was to make the models look as if they were wearing flowers and little else.
Her idea won immediate praise from the London fashion trend predictor drafted in by UCLAN to decide which student collections should get an airing at Graduate Fashion Week
"She congratulated me on an innovative idea. She said she had never seen real pressed flowers used anywhere before," said Laura.
It took a year to take her idea from conception to completion and, in the process, bringing alive the the drawings in her sketchpad.
Laura sourced the materials, including hundreds of pressed blooms from a specialist preserver in the US, to making and cutting the patterns, constructing the garments and working on the painstakingly detailed surface designs.
She then got to act as stylist for her own final photoshoot, using gardening props, to show them off in the way she wanted.
At Graduate Fashion Week the collection was handed over to a stylist, who stripped it of some of its femininity by styling it with more edge.
Laura, working backstage, only got to see it on a screen whilst helping to dress models for the collection following her own.
"I was back stage, too busy stressing about it, I only had a quick glance at the screen. It's a very surreal experience."
Her mum and dad, Debbie and Tom, brother Martin, grandma Lilian Sheldon and boyfriend Ryan Mercer were in the audience and were delighted to lead the applause when she came out to take a bow.
Mum Debbie has been a huge help to Laura. Debbie's own career in fashion was cut short when her spine was crushed in a car accident. She had owned and run her own business, named Laura Jane for her then small daughter, making ballgowns.
"I am sure that fashion is in my blood, because of mum," said Laura. "It is the only thing I wanted to do. It is my passion.
"Mum has helped me so much. With this collection she has sat by my side to make it less stressful for me and has done a a lot of the hand-sewing to help me out.
"My boyfriend has been a rock, too, helping to keep me calm!"
Laura, who aims to start her own boutique website, said: "Working for myself has always been my ambition. People keep telling me I won't have a penny to my name and will be living off baked beans, but I don't care. It's my dream."
There are two celebrities Laura would love the chance to dress in her designs - Mischa Barton for day and Victoria Beckham for night.
And what about her own style of dress?
"I suppose I go for vintage. I love going to car boot sales and charity shops picking up things which I can work into the way I want them to look."
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Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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