Eun Kyung Kim - Womenswear
Describe your graduate collection.
While working on this collection, I tried to translate songs into garments by repeating pleats. It’s young, fun and a little bit kitschy. Old-fashioned methods of pleating have also been an inspiration, and I looked at some work of Issey Miyake and Madeleine Vionnet.
What films / books/ tv programmes / moments inspired your designs?
I’m very inspired by music and songs such as “The Summer Song” by Yach or Gossip’s “YR Mangled Heart”.
Describe the moment you realized you wanted to be a fashion designer?
I was 15 and just saw my first fashion show.
What designers do you respect?
Alber Elbaz, Dries Van Noten and Marc Jacobs.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
Having my own label stocked in Harrods!
If you weren’t a fashion designer who would you be?
A photographer like Cindy Sherman.
Luke Brooks - Fashion Knitwear
Describe your graduate collection.
I was in Paris and I started reading about Jerusalem’s Syndrome, where people go on pilgrimage package tours and some of them get so overwhelmed by being there and they get this religious feeling and it turns into a psychosis.
There’s a whole list of syndromes like taking their bedsheets, going out looking biblical and preaching.
I found that really lovely and it’s complicated because they call it a syndrome but who are we to say they’re not having a wonderful time.
Describe the moment you realised you wanted to be a fashion designer?
On the foundation course, I tried fashion out and it was good so I carried on.
Who is your all time fashion idol?
I think a lot about Mariano Fortuny – that sort of artisanal designer.
If you could go back in time and experience any fashion moment, what would it be?
It would probably be weaving in Celtic times because my grandma is Irish and it’s in the blood. Or ancient Africa.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
I was telling myself that I would be a freelance knitwear designer but going through the process of this collection, it made me feel like I could be at the helm of my own thing which I was shying away from.
I’d also really like to set up a monastery that was focused on creating knitwear.
If you weren’t a fashion designer who would you be?
Maybe a monk? I fantasise a lot about being a housewife, cooking and cleaning but to a higher level.
