Arts Thread

Amy Barnes
Fashion and Textile Design BA Hons

University of Portsmouth

Specialisms: Sustainable Fashion/Textiles / Apparel / Textiles for Fashion

Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom

amy-barnes ArtsThread Profile
University of Portsmouth

Amy Barnes

Amy Barnes ArtsThread Profile

First Name: Amy

Last Name: Barnes

Specialisms: Sustainable Fashion/Textiles / Apparel / Textiles for Fashion

Sectors:

My Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom

University / College: University of Portsmouth

Course / Program Title: Fashion and Textile Design BA Hons

About

I’m Amy a sustainably focused designer from University of Portsmouth. I am an innovative fashion designer who merges my passion for environmentalism with my expertise in upcycling. Through my unique skills, I have crafted a collection that sparks crucial conversations around the issue of plastic waste. By boldly embracing plastic as a newfound 'raw material'. I am contributing to a more circular and sustainable approach to fashion. My aim was to remove the stigma around the use of waste as a raw material. I dedicated around 150 hours to preparing and transforming plastics into functional and versatile materials. Through careful craftsmanship, I cut and wove 1cm strips of plastic into a plaid-style pattern, sewing them together to create innovative sheet materials. I experimented with 4-inch strips of plastic, ruffling them to generate striking, deep ruffles. This process gives discarded plastics a new life and purpose while challenging preconceived ideas of what can be achieved with unconventional materials.

‘Plashionate’ is a bold and innovative fashion collection that challenges common perceptions of plastic waste and presents it as a valuable resource. As a designer, I believe in the power of creativity and innovation to solve problems and effect change. The collection uses unconventional materials and a range of innovative techniques to create hand-crafted textiles, that showcase the complexity and potential of plastic as a material. By combining foil-backed and clear plastics in a plaid-style weave, I have crafted unique textile designs that defy expectations. I have also used colourful plastic to create deep ruffles, textures, and details that highlight the sparkling qualities of plastic. ‘Plashionate’ challenges the prevailing view of plastic waste as an environmental problem and encourages us to view it as a valuable resource. By rescuing single-use plastics from the waste stream and transforming them into high-fashion designs, a wealth of potential is uncovered in these materials.