Alexandra Shortall
Fashion Design BA
Edinburgh College of Art
Specialisms: Womenswear / Party/Eveningwear / Textiles - Knit
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Alexandra Shortall
First Name: Alexandra
Last Name: Shortall
Specialisms: Womenswear / Party/Eveningwear / Textiles - Knit
Sectors:
My Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
University / College: Edinburgh College of Art
Course / Program Title: Fashion Design BA
About
I'm Alexandra Shortall, a graduate designer who specialises in womenswear and knitwear design. My personal love for the ocean has led me to explore why I and fellow 'thalassophiles' feel so drawn to the great blue. This research, and my personal connection to my thalassophile customer, combines to create a collection that transports you straight to the sea.
As well as designing for fellow lovers of the ocean, I wanted to insure my collection was designed for the modern woman. I designed my graduate collection for women who feel connected to nature, spirituality and to their femininity, but at the same time are strong, ambitious, and proud. I have often found that women are expected to sacrifice parts of their femininity in order to claim a space in the workforce. I wanted to design a collection that celebrated both sides of my customer, allowing her to protect the softness of her character while remaining strong. It was this inspiration that led me to explore contrasting materials, looking to metallic silks and satins to reflect the soft ebbs and flows of water, as well as the soft femininity of my customer. Then, experimenting with how I could create the same movement in rigid materials of metal and glass, representing the strength and protection my customer seeks from her clothes.
As well as designing for fellow lovers of the ocean, I wanted to insure my collection was designed for the modern woman. I designed my graduate collection for women who feel connected to nature, spirituality and to their femininity, but at the same time are strong, ambitious, and proud. I have often found that women are expected to sacrifice parts of their femininity in order to claim a space in the workforce. I wanted to design a collection that celebrated both sides of my customer, allowing her to protect the softness of her character while remaining strong. It was this inspiration that led me to explore contrasting materials, looking to metallic silks and satins to reflect the soft ebbs and flows of water, as well as the soft femininity of my customer. Then, experimenting with how I could create the same movement in rigid materials of metal and glass, representing the strength and protection my customer seeks from her clothes.
The pentland churchill champagne pol roger conscious case competition
Celebrating France and friendship, politics and painting, this design captures the wide breadth of Sir Winston Churchill’s legacy, honouring both him and the Pol Roger legacy as they mark 175 years of brilliant Champagne.
THALASSOPHILE- lover of the ocean My personal love for the ocean has led me to explore why I and fellow 'thalassophiles' feel so drawn to the great blue. This research, and my personal connection to my thalassophile customer, combines to create a collection that transports you straight to the sea.
What does it mean to be a modern woman in the workforce? Often it can mean sacrificing your softness or femininity to get ahead. I wanted to reinvent business wear in a way that celebrates the wearers' femininity in the workforce- allowing her to be both soft and strong, protected and powerful. To do this I have tackled a range of contrasting materials from soft satins and structural wools, to the unconventional materials of glass and metal. Through these materials I explored and celebrated the contrasting rigidity and fluidity of the female form- in all the diverse shapes and sizes it comes in.
Competitions
