Sarah Thompson, design process

Sarah Thompson's collection 'The Farming People' has been inspired by her love and admiration for her upbringing on a moorland farm in North Yorkshire. Upcycling farmers clothing which has withstood many season, endured wear and tear from physical work and also provided a reliable comfort for farmers, is something very close to Sarah's heart. Using traditional techniques, she has deconstructed, reworked and developed nee shapes and textures and designs from these farmers clothing. She also has the aim and passion to achieve being a conscious fashion designer, developing new ideas and methods to for a more sustainable fashion future.

The labour and traditions of farming families has lead to the designer conducting her own dying experiments using vegetables, rust and more. Rust dying proved the most successful using chicken wire to create a unique print onto organic fabrics. This has also given new life to something, highlighting the designers own sustainability ethos and development of more environmentally friendly dying processes.

The Japanese Boro technique, know as the 'Japanese art of mending' is a quilting technique developed by the Japanese to extend the life of ragged and tattered clothing. This hugely inspired Sarah in her process of upcycling and deconstructing, mending and reforming new pieces.

Along with natural dying, screen printing and patchwowrking; Sarah explored a third print method which involved hand drawing and digitally editing a repeat floral pattern. AS the hues and tones of the donated clothes were muted greens and browns, Sarah set out to develop a vibrant floral print inspired by her Grandmother's 60's floral dresses. A ditsy vintage print in very modern and clashing tones, give pops of colour and a vibrant clash to the upcycled patchwork.