Lucy Bittlestone

Life should be a picnic of fun, happiness and being carefree. More often than not we fall into a tedious existence of being too comfortable without seeking more of an adventure, or something that pushes the boundaries. Through clothing, I want to revitalize the playfulness we feel like children, taking this into an adult-like reality, generating a magical sense of what we sometimes wish we were doing, instead of living in the now. How can we escape from the monotonous reality we find ourselves living? Can we exist in a utopia where we can be careless and free? I took inspiration from nature and my childhood to reflect playfulness and portray a paradise that we all sometimes wish we were living in, escaping from societal expectations. Creating a body of work that captures fun and enjoyment in a time of such doubt and uncertainty, was my primary focus, to give us reminders of the adventure that we all have within us. I looked at the perception between reality and fantasy, taking influences from natural organic shapes and forms. This enabled me to develop a collection balancing volume with layering and texture. I explored how to create sustainable parts of my collection, whilst still integrating the voluminous and playful silhouettes. I upcycled an old tipi, using detail to create a unique twist on fun outdoor clothing. The original colour of the tipi was pink and therefore from the outset, I fitted this into my colour palette. Combining the tipi with outdoor waterproof materials and delicate lightweight fabrics creates a juxtaposition in my work that portrays my concept but explores a modern active feeling in the clothing. Using my own drawings and sketches inspired by the whimsical side of the natural world, I created print designs that are bold, fun and free. Through my prints I wanted to directly represent who I am as a designer, the distortion of the flowers creates an element of mystery and intrigue, opening a door for people to look further into the rest of the spontaneity in my work.