SEEK by Amelia Rose Wilson

Issue 1 Discover

(n.) A strong desire or urge to wander or travel and e

explore the world.

Hide and Seek. 6-7 A woodland adventure 8-9 Time for tea 10-11 Discarded treasures

Inspiration. 30-35 Home sweet home 36-37 Make do and mend 38-41 A fashion career 42-43 Cocktail o’clock 52-55 “You have to taste a culture to understand it”

This is England. 12-15 A design student’s visit to London 16-19 A weekend away 28-29 Low Sizergh Barn

Just go. 20-27 “Youth has no age” 44-47 Explore, dream, discover 48-51 A blonde discovery of Thailand

Guisborough woodlands, North Yorkshire Winter 2015

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an aspiring hiker or simply a Sunday walker, Gisborough woods is a beautiful, scenic and tranquil environment. 8

_____________________________________ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.â&#x20AC;? Albert Einstein _____________________________________

Lavendar tea rooms Thornton-le-dale 10

Thornton-le-dale is a scenic and traditional village, offering something for everyone. It has an array of independently run cafĂŠs and shops creating a friendly and close knit community. Located in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Thornton-le-dale is an idyllic place to visit if you are passing by or are regulars in the area. Lavender Tearooms, situated in the heart of the village offers a welcoming, homely and cosy cafĂŠ experience, perfect if you love to relax with a cup of tea or simply enjoy to sit back and read a book. You can also indulge in a selection of delicious homemade sweet and savoury delights making the visit all the more worthwhile!

There’s something quite special about a beach. They’re a place to get away, breathe and let go of what’s on your mind. I always reminisce about my childhood, as I hold so many happy memories on beaches around the UK. The feeling of the sand between your toes and the wind moving through your hair fills me with life and is incomparable. Being on a beach is always a voyage of discovery, knowing little about the science behind shells, sand and the tide means that everything feels quite magical. Living just a short drive away from Morecambe, I make many trips to the beach throughout the year. In a recent trip to Hest Bank on Morecambe Bay, I discovered that the sand was covered in broken pieces of pottery. Beautiful pieces of someone’s once treasured tea set crunched beneath my feet. I felt like a child again, collecting treasures to take home and show off. I didn’t look into why they were there as I’d like to remain quite innocent, and create my own story for each individual piece. 13

____________________________ “If you’re curious, London’s an amazing place.” David Bailey ____________________________ Amelia Wilson, 19. I visit London year after year, and never fail to find something new and exciting to do. As a design student, my curiosity definitely runs wild. No matter what your interests are, you’re guaranteed to see something extraordinary. The thrill of being part of the hustle and bustle, the people you meet and the general atmosphere is incomparable. 14

The Saatchi Gallery The renowned Saatchi Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary work of young and unseen artists from around the World. During my visit in February, I particularly loved the ‘Habitat’ exhibition, with Pop Art closely linked to the way we live, looking at man made functional items in our natural environment. There were some bazaar pieces, such as pots, pans and colanders hung from fishing wire against a painted backdrop of a forest scene. A fantastic gallery for those with a love of unusual, deeply conceptual, social and cultural modern art. The Design Museum The Design Museum, situated by the River Thames, offers exhibitions for those interested in any aspect of contemporary design, such as graphics, fashion, architecture and product design. Their current ‘Women Fashion Power’ exhibition explores the way in which clothing can express and highlight women’s positions in the World. With 27 powerful women featured, covering 150 years of fashion, from Princesses to designers, there are some fantastic and impressive pieces to view. As a Fashion student I was taken aback by the range of iconic garments, from a classic Chanel suit to Lady Gaga’s shredded bin bag dress.

“...once through the blackout curtain adorning the entrance you are greeted with a “myriad of food, drink and entertainment styles”.

Sketch- Restaurant, Bar and Café After a recommendation, we made reservations for lunch at Sketch Restaurant. Wandering up and down Conduit Street we found the ‘quirky’ café, blending in to the architecture of Mayfair. However, once through the blackout curtain adorning the entrance you are greeted with a “myriad of food, drink and entertainment styles”. We sat in the Parlour, chose from a selection of their teas and ate bagels and sweet pastries. The décor was eccentric, classic with a variety of Louis XV seating. There are various other restaurants and bars in the building, including the Gallery, Lecture Room, the Glade and the East Bar, all with their own unique style, very different from each other. The attention to detail was fantastic, from a sketch of playground hopscotch on the floor to the cleaners dressed in classic French maid uniforms. The toilets, however, are an experience, with individual pods, odd muffled soundtracks, Buddha statues and a multicoloured glass ceiling. Although relatively pricey, Sketch is definitely worth a visit.

Liberty If you love gorgeous fabric prints and one of kind designer pieces then a visit to Liberty London is a must. Even their Tudor building on Great Marlborough Street is worth going to see, constructed from the timbers of two ships in 1924, it is fairly impressive. Liberty is known worldwide for their gorgeous fabrics, and inspecting them in the haberdashery will not disappoint- I was in a fashion designer’s heaven. They not only have an impressive selection of women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, but their house furnishings department is fantastic. With unique and eclectic furniture from around the world, it is the perfect place to go in search of unusual pieces, or perhaps simply inspiration. Liberty is full of character and holds a precious history therefore standing out from other department stores in London. Aqua shard A visit to level 31 of the Shard, to the Aqua Shard Bar is certainly a treat for a student like myself! Despite the pricey drinks, what an experience it was sat in the window looking out over London on a crisp winter’s evening. With phenomenal views over the River Thames towards London Bridge, good company and a nice bottle of wine, it felt like a truly special evening. I believe you can book to go up to ‘London’s highest viewing platform’, (£20 for students and £25 for adults) however, the view from level 31 was incredible.

____________________________________________ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always feel that when I come to Edinburgh, in many ways I am coming home.â&#x20AC;? Alan Rickman ____________________________________________ 18

“… a map is essential.” Faye Robinson, 18. Looking forward to an enjoyable, girl’s weekend away, Mum and I decided to visit Edinburgh. A short two-night break was all we needed to kick back, relax and have some fun. Ensuring the trip also involved important visits and activities that I could input into my University projects. Immediately, we realised that Edinburgh was a difficult place to navigate so we picked up a map from the hotel reception before heading out on our first city adventure- a map is essential. I had not visited Edinburgh since I was little and since becoming a fashion student, I was particularly enthusiastic about visiting Princes Street and George Street. Both are a popular shopping destination with a busy, city life atmosphere but remaining beautifully scenic, which of course, is what Edinburgh is known for. However, we didn’t forget the importance of the trip, Mum and I decided to visit The National Museum of Scotland. We put shopping aside until we were satisfied that I had obtained enough work and research! The National Museum of Scotland The national museum of Scotland is a historic architectural building containing 53,000 square feet of exhibition space. The vast space allows for amazing displays to be held there. Exhibitions vary throughout the museum, providing an enjoyable experience for everyone. As an added bonus, the museum admission is free! Along with most tourist attractions in Edinburgh, the museum has an incredible gift shop, of which you can purchase books, scarves, jewellery and a selection of superb souvenirs. Tartan Weaving Mill Wanting to explore somewhere more related to textiles and fashion, we decided to walk along the Royal Mile to the Tartan Weaving Mill. The Mill is unexpectedly large with five floors of fabulous tartan dresses and accessories. To experience Scottish traditions, the mill exhibition shows the whole process of kilt making, to sheep shearing and working machinery looms. Visitors can also wear the kilts and dresses and be photographed to remember the moment forever. When viewing the machinery there is an exciting working atmosphere and it was an inspirational part of the visit, especially for those also interested in textiles production. Located next to the Edinburgh Castle, visiting the Tartan Weaving Mill is an excellent popular destination, ahead of experiencing the views that Edinburgh castle has to offer. Royal Mile – Edinburgh camera Obscura Additionally, the Royal Mile has more to offer. Edinburgh’s camera Obscura is great fun, it is the oldest visitor’s attraction that Edinburgh has. On the street you can photograph yourself in obscura mirrors making your trip up the Royal Mile all the more exciting. Although we didn’t go into the show and explore the whole illusion experience, the outside entertainment is just as amusing. If you are intrigued by the sound of the visit, admission is £11.95 for students and £13.95 for an adult; I can ensure you that the five floor optical experience will not disappoint! 19

In addition to exhibitions and museums mentioned, I also visited the National Portrait Gallery; this is a review giving my personal opinion, recommendations and general information about the Gallery. Beauty by Design- Fashioning the Renaissance- 15th November 2014- 3rd May 2015 As a fashion design student, an exhibition that caught my eye was the Beauty by Design exhibition featuring the works of Sophie Hallette Lace. Inspired by the renaissance portraits throughout the gallery, UK Fashion Designers explored ideas with regards to beauty and cosmetics. The pieces on display used materials such as lace, and I couldn’t believe how unbelievably intricate and delicate they all were. The pieces were exceptionally well considered and displayed on a With 30,000 impressive images to see, the gallery is rich with a light box of which they were originally produced using. I was slightly variety of media and without a doubt has plenty of pieces to see. disappointed in the selection of garments on display, as there are Having no particular interest in the history of Scotland or art, I was impressed with the sheer level of detail in every painting throughout only seven pieces in the exhibition. However, I can’t fault the quality and how impressive they all were. Although only on display until 3rd history. It’s amazing how a painting can present emotions and a May, and it is a small exhibition, if you have an interest in textiles and story without even reading into its context. fashion, this exhibition will not disappoint. “The theme of body image is central: the historic paintings have been approached both as a means of challenging current perceptions of physical beauty, and as inspiration for a more diverse and emotionally considerate practice on part of today’s fashion designers.” – Scottish National Portrait Gallery 21 The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, situated just a five minute walk from Edinburgh’s Princes Street, brings you “face to face with Scotland, past and present”. A fantastic building designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson is a remarkable sight to see in itself. Now offering 17 displays, there is plenty to see with regards to the history of Scotland through their impressive portraits of central historical figures throughout history such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Robert Burns.

-Pablo Picasso Rosanna Haigh, 19, travelled around Europe during the summer of 2014. Walking into her house, greeted with an array of pieces from their family travels, it was clear that the whole house was filled with cultural spirit and discovery.

Why did you decide to go travelling around Europe? It was something I always really wanted to do. It was kind of like we just wanted to travel and thought, yeah, okay lets do it! We were going to go around Britain and then we got all excited about all of these different places. We’d been saving up money for years so we decided to do the interrailing thing. What is your favourite item that you brought back with you that you’ll keep forever? Oh, I don’t know! I brought back a pair of really baggy trousers from Munich. They are sort of based on leopard print in like a burnt sienna colour. I wear them all the time because they look quite nice, but they’re also really practical if you’re doing theatre or if you’re travelling for ages. I also got one wooden earring; it’s hand carved and really pretty and I’ve always wanted one since I was tiny.

What would you say was your most memorable moment? It’s difficult because there are so many. The whole thing was such a bazaar experience. We were lost a lot of the time. We had some very memorable bad experiences and some very memorable good ones. I’d have to say one of the most surreal but brilliant experiences was in Hallstatt, in Austria. It’s this tiny little place with all these beautiful buildings. It doesn’t look real. It’s quite touristy, which we didn’t know when we went there. Hallstatt is in a valley right next to this huge, beautiful lake and massive mountains. We had a really fancy meal in a hotel next to the lake; we thought we would splash out, as we weren’t going to be there long. We’d just ordered pudding, which was great, and the wind started to pick up and the lake began to look like the sea. We thought it was weird, but we’re used to weird weather, we live in England! The headwaiter ran out and suggested we move inside, so we just sort of totted in.

“The lake just looked crazy. It was thrashing, the rain was hitting the windows. You could hardly see anything.”

All the other waiters ran out and started grabbing everything, bringing it inside in a rush. The lake just looked crazy. It was thrashing, the rain was hitting the windows. You could hardly see anything. The thunder started and there was lightening. After we’d paid it was still going on so we thought well lets just go with it. We went out and we walked back in this absolutely massive rainstorm. It was amazing. You could see the lightening everywhere; it was really beautiful but very weird. The night before we’d been thinking this place isn’t all that we thought it was, it was all touristy and we’d kind of lost faith in it. Then that happened, and it was like no, this place is crazy! The storm stopped and we were stood by the lake a bit further down, then this firework display started and it was just beautiful and you could see it reflecting on the water.

If someone wanted to plan a trip, what advice would you give? It’s all very personal to what you want, so don’t try and plan it around other people. Make sure you’re with people that want the same kind of experiences as you, or you might end up just sort of floating along with what you don’t want to do. It would be fun to go in a big group but it was quite nice for us because we could tailor it exactly to what each other wanted. We could also both look after each other’s needs, so if one of us was knackered then we could just stop. Whereas, if you are in a big group you might have to keep going. What was your most essential item in your rucksack that you couldn’t have lived without? Insect repellent! We just got eaten alive.

Where was your favourite place? I think, LjubIjana in Slovenia. It was just so chilled out there, and when we went there was a music festival. People were playing music in the street everywhere. There are these amazing ornate old buildings and white bridges with statues of dragons. It’s got this bazaar castle that I couldn’t tell what era it was from, I didn’t find out when I was there. It looks like it was put together all higgledy-piggledy, but in order to do that the architecture must be really complex. Also, the style of it was quite nice as it’s the capital. As Slovenia is so small, all the buildings were quite small and quite European but were massively graffitied. The contrast of the urban modern and the old fashioned little cute buildings looked really good. You’d think it would destroy it but it worked really nicely. It was very bohemian.

What place would you recommend as a must see? Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, which is a National Park. It’s incredibly touristy so you have to walk along really slowly because there are loads of people there but it is just beautiful. There’s like all these pools, and it looks like something out of a fantasy film. There’s these beautiful fish, the water is so clear in Croatia, and you walk along these planks of wood and there’s all these paths made of planks of logs. And at some points they’re covered by water so it’s almost like you’re walking on water. We went in our own boat too and rowed around the lake. It’s hard because I don’t know how much seeing of places we did. We just wanted a break. We were both kind of content with being in places. We’re the kind of people that would just be happy sat somewhere quite remote. But we also like the busy and touristy places as well.

Hazel Van Zwanenberg, 70, has recently travelled around Burma for 4 weeks with her partner, Philip. In comparison to Rosanna, it is clear that age does not limit your ambition.

Why did you choose to travel to Myanmar? Well, Burma has only recently opened up for western tourists, Phillip and I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to travel there and experience the culture before it became too touristy. Did you pre-plan your holiday activities and visits? Our visits in Burma were mainly organised by guidebooks, to help arrange specific trips we had communication with a Burmese guide. All the travel and accommodation was coordinated by local travel agents so we didn’t make any mistakes! We enjoy staying in local communities advised by the local travel agents as we find it’s always a better experience; the rooms can be as low as £10 and vary to £30! Trips such as the boat ride at Inle Lake were planned whilst we were away, we found locals who were willing to take us to generate more work but for us it was very cheap. I suppose at our age most people expect us to go on cruises or saga holidays but it just isn’t us.

Where do you mostly shop for your holiday clothes? Generally for travelling to places such as Myanmar we take old holiday clothes and added extras from places like Matalan. Most washing in the little villages we visited, was carried out in rivers or lakes turning our clothing funny colours, so it’s best not to take lots of new clothing! We like to take part in the way people live from places we visit and the people we stay with whilst out there, it’s all part of the travelling experience.

“Whilst we were out site seeing, we discovered many of the locals wanted to take pictures of us- it was as if we were famous!”

What was your most memorable moment whilst on your trip? It’s very hard to choose one moment, everything was so memorable as it was such a beautiful destination. About a week into the trip, we visited Nwge Saung; it was an amazing place. As Phillip and I enjoyed a walk along the beach one afternoon, there was a guy in a boat. At first we thought nothing of him until he began throwing his pigs into the sea, making them swim to shore as they squealed off the side of the boat. We weren’t sure why at the time but it was hilarious and definitely something to remember and make us laugh. Most essential item in your rucksack? Most definitely a torch! Did you bring anything interesting back from your travels such as souvenirs? Philip bought his usual wooden mask, which we now have a substantial collection of around the house. It’s nice to have a collection of pieces from different places along with a couple of paintings. I bought two scarves, I couldn’t help myself! Did you meet any interesting people? Whilst we were out site seeing, we discovered many of the locals wanted to take pictures of us- it was as if we were famous! They were just curious as to where we had come from and basically just wanted to make friends. Everyone was really friendly and welcoming. We also discovered selfie sticks, they were extremely popular over in Burma! What was the favourite place you visited on your trip and would you recommend it? Inle Lake was a beautiful place, people lived on the lake in little still houses and used boats as transport to land at each other’s homes. It was brilliant and most enjoyable seeing the way in which people live and work over there and well worth the cold morning 7am start to the market. We would definitely recommend the trip.

“You will always receive a warm Cumbrian welcome”. – Low Sizergh Barn

On Mother’s Day 2015, I visited Low Sizergh Barn. On the edge of the Lake District, it is a beautiful day out suitable for all the family. Although still a working farm, it offers a gorgeous tearoom, local produce, home furnishings and farm trail. Admittedly, it wasn’t on the top of my to do list, and I thought it would be something my Mum would enjoy more. However, their tearoom with a difference and picturesque farm trails made me instantly fall in love with the 17th Century Barn. Working Farm “… records show that there has been a farm on the Low Sizergh site since the 13th century.” (Low Sizergh Barn) On their 341 acres of land Richard and Judith Park keep 170 cows, 700 hens and 200 Swaledale and Mule sheep. Low Sizergh Barn provides produce to Kendal, local areas and also to sell in their farm shop and café. It was lovely to see the animals grazing happily on the farm and they seemed very content with their surroundings. 30

Farm Trail As we arrived, although a cold spring day, we ventured on the tranquil farm trail. A clear stone path leads you through their flock of 700 hens, exploring the peaceful woodland and taking in the beautiful Cumbrian surroundings. The pass isn’t as obvious as you explore further, therefore, a great sense of adventure is advised! Tea Room Probably my favourite part of the Low Sizergh Barn experience was my visit to their very unusual tearoom. Their rustic farm building holds a warm and friendly atmosphere, homemade bakes and hearty Cumbrian dishes. I love that they boast local produce on their menu, and have a selection of delicious, traditional meals such as harvest vegetable pie with garden salad (£7.95) and honey and mustard glazed ham, a Low Sizergh Farm free range egg, and potato wedges (£7.95).

This Cumbrian café is particularly unusual, as every afternoon at about 3:30 pm, whilst you’re enjoying a delicious cream scone and cup of tea, the farm’s cows are milked and you can enjoy an entertaining view through the café’s windows overlooking the milking shed! This provides fantastic entertainment for both adults and children. Getting a seat early is recommended, as it can get very busy, especially at weekends. Shopping at Low Sizergh Barn The rustic farm shop is three floors of treats, including; farm produce, homewear, gifts and clothing. It is clear that that they take pride in their local and homegrown food. The fruit, vegetables and bakes on display looked mouthwateringly good and were also reasonably priced for the quality. Their home and gift department, down some rickety stairs in the cellar, was a cosy cave full off treasures by local artists. Whether you visit Low Sizergh Barn in search of good quality local produce, a walk through the Cumbrian hills or to indulge in a visit to their café, it guarantees something for everyone to enjoy.

The home of Kate Drummond, illustrator and John Kingston, craftsman, lies just off Morecambe Promenade. Their three storey house that they have personally renovated, is decorated like a vintage collector’s paradise and holds many of John’s handmade pieces therefore holding its own quirky style. Here Kate tells us where she has collected these unusual finds over the years and some personal stories behind them.

The piece of Perspex that has CHANGE written on it was from the Sunday morning car boot sale in Brighton - I bought it for £1! John has made it into a light box. I guess the original sign would have been from an amusement arcade. The New York pendants were from a reclamation yard in Penrith - they are original screen printed pendants from Baseball games, I think. I bought them because I liked the type. I’m not sure why John bought the Japanese flute! 32

The light is from an amazing shop in Mablethorpe, in Lincolnshire. It’s 1950s, I think. The painting is from Vicary antiques in Carnforth. It’s signed Lore Reiss, 1964. Goodness knows how it ended up in Carnforth as she’s based in New York! We paid about £150 for it, which was quite a lot for us at the time, but I REALLY love it.

The pendant lights are from an old silk mill in Galgate and John got them from it before it was recently gutted and turned into flats. John made the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;TEA BARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sign for me for my 40th birthday. It is a reproduction of a sign that used to be on a shop in Morecambe that I had always loved. It was removed from the building that it was on about 6 years ago, and I was kicking myself at the time for not asking the builders for it before they threw it away!

The maps pasted onto the wall are all 1960s touring road maps of various states in the USA. I bought a lever-arch folder with them all in years ago at a jumble sale in East Sussex, and have been waiting for a wall to put them on ever since! 34

Jonnington McJonners, our lovely greyhound, lying in front of one of Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabinets was made with a birch ply frame and pieces of wood from all over the show!

The chair belonged to John’s son’s great great Grandmother so it is VERY old! The brown, textured wallpaper was 50c from the Emmaus charity shop in Saumur, France - where my Mum and Dad used to live. The painting was from a charity shop in Dunfermline, where my Grandma used to live. It’s an oil painting, and is signed but I have no idea who the artist is or was or where the painting is from, if indeed it is a real place! I think it cost about £10 and I would imagine, from the kind of frame it is in, that it is from the 1950s or 60s.

‘Hoose’ is from Morecambe. We ‘liberated’ it from a sign that was on an empty property on Regent Road in the West End. I like it especially because it is a mis-spelling, but may be intentional - as this is a Scottish pronunciation of the word. The massive fir cone is from Switzerland. The tapestry was from a flea market in Paris. We had to bring it back on Eurostar, which was no mean feat, as it is quite big! Luckily, it slotted nice and neatly behind the back of the last seat on the carriage. I think we paid about 30 euros for it. The wall, window and desk are part of the room divider that John built. The mirror was my Gran’s, via my Mum. We acquired it when they moved back from France. 37

Sat in The English Muse, Hull, seemed like the perfect place to meet vintage lover, Emma Metcalfe, a self- taught sewer and fashionista. Having never studied fashion, how did you learn how to construct garments? It’s quite silly really, I absolutely love shopping and constantly readjusting my wardrobe, but I started to get bored. I always wanted to combine pieces of clothing and collections together. I started walking into shops and thinking that the silhouette of a dress would work better in another material. High street brands weren’t giving me what I wanted, so I went and did it myself. At first the whole concept was a disaster, I had never used a sewing machine, I had no idea that they needed threading up or what half of the equipment was. In all honesty I still don’t, and I’m kind of still guessing and learning. I started without researching anything and I only learnt from my mistakes. I had no idea what pattern cutting was; I genuinely thought designers just put clothes together. I had no idea about all the pieces and patterns, I enrolled onto an evening class to study pattern cutting, but the course was very technical and wasn’t at all what I expected, therefore, I’ve decided I’m kind of a self-taught lost beginner. 38

Are there any designers that have influenced your work? Honestly, I’m completely clueless when it comes to designers and even artists! I couldn’t tell you anything that’s currently on the catwalks, or even where these catwalks are. I do however, find my favourite places quite inspirational, for instance this is my favourite coffee shop and I love to people watch. I’m terrible for it, if someone comes in wearing something I don’t quite like, I’ll sit with my coffee and scribble through designs until I’ve designed it better. It’s quite horrible of me really, but I love the challenge. This is also quite cliché, but my Nana is massively influential, she could genuinely give designers a run for their money, she’s brilliant. We made all of my dresses together when I was little, I don’t actually remember, but according to the photos I was very well dressed as a child. She’s stopped sewing now because she says her eyes have weakened, I personally think her one off sewing and wonky garments are unique though! As I mentioned earlier mistakes are my favourite.

Would you want a career in fashion? At the minute it isn’t something that I’m considering. I have my career, to me making clothes is a hobby I think having it as a career might turn it into more of a chore. I might be wrong, but I’m happy as I am, it might be something I consider for the future. Hopefully it will be something I just stumble across rather than have to study for. The pattern cutting course I did was horrible, I learnt from it but I took away the basics and did what I wanted with them. Being in education was too restrictive for me, and I feel that would be the same situation if it were a job. I would be doing what someone else wanted, and not what I wanted. You mentioned that at first you didn’t have a sewing machine, so what is your most crucial equipment? Without a doubt, creativity and confidence. I hate it when people say that they can’t do something because they haven’t got specific equipment. If you want to do something and your heart is set on it, then you will do it. At first I hand sewed everything, as I was too scared to use a sewing machine. I practiced once or twice and it moved so fast, but in time I learnt. However, even though I have expanded into new equipment creativity is crucial. I’ve never studied art, and I definitely can’t draw! However, if I have a design in my head and I want it, I just guess and go with it. Confidence is also vital, I’m quite harsh and if people say to me that they cannot do something, I would probably believe them, as if you haven’t the confidence to even start you’ve already given up. Positivity is everything.

You mentioned that you learn by mistakes, do you have a favourite mistake? It’s quite laughable really, that all of my favourite clothes were complete mistakes! I imagine that even now I wouldn’t know what to do to fix them. It’s very cliché, but I’m obsessed with Sex and the City! Carrie Bradshaw’s, style literally has no boundaries! I recall in one episode she wore a floral mac, which I loved, of course. I searched for it, and again, it was nowhere to be found! So, I started to make my own! I had never made a coat before so I knew I was in for a struggle. I sewed the sleeves on literally upside down and backwards, and the worst thing is I had no idea until I had finished. I cut at the sleeves to make them fit into the sleeve holes, and completely guessed my way through! The finishing of the sleeves were oddly curved. That’s when I realised everything was backwards, I loved it! It made such a unique feature, even if it was wrong. How would you describe your garments and your style? A little bit of a shambles really, nothing ever goes right and nothing ever goes to plan. I make a thousand to do lists and do not stick to any of them. I cannot design, but if I do draw a quick sketch up of something, the actual finalised garment looks nothing like it. I like to describe my style as abstract, but I think that’s just my little expression of when something goes wrong. My Carrie Bradshaw inspired coat was very abstract, a complete mistake but abstract. I never really stick to the same style either. I wouldn’t say my clothes are unique enough to be recognisable as my own, but that’s just because I have so many different ideas and I like to do them all. My style is scattered, a little like my head.

An exclusive interview with Eleanor Scott, 23, recent Westminster graduate and up and coming knitwear designer working for Topshop and ASOS. How would you describe your university experience and would you recommend doing a degree? I had a complete love hate relationship with university. Looking back at the whole experience, I wouldn’t change a moment. However, there were times when deadlines were all running at once and the nights I stayed up too late with too little work scattered everywhere was horrible. I believe that designers can create themselves a fashion career without a degree; however, the harsh reality is it’s who you know and sometimes not what you know. I wouldn’t even be close to where I am today without my degree, I have garments and collections on ASOS marketplace and I work and have strict deadlines for Topshop. A fashion career definitely involves blood, sweat and tears. However, I would definitely recommend a degree, even just for the memories. Hard work, but worth every moment!

Are there any designers that have influenced your work? Designers do influence me, and it is quite often textile artists who specialise in knit rather than fashion designers. However, studying A-levels in art and textiles, I was taught not to research catwalks and trends and to be influenced by objects. Therefore, I taught myself throughout college and university to be influenced by almost everything but fashion. Saying that out loud does sound absolutely awful for a fashion designer to admit! Still, objects have always influenced silhouettes that I create and the colours I use are always quite neutral. Art exhibitions and cultural places seem to have been a point of interest recently. I based an entire collection on The Deep, (an aquarium in Hull) the curved shape of the jellyfish influenced the curved shape in the necklines, and seeing the fish swimming so gracefully influenced the silhouette and the material I chose for the collection, creating fluidity. This was the collection for ASOS marketplace, and the one that kick started my fashion career.

How would you describe your garments and your style? I think I will always specialise in knitwear, I’ve loved it since my textile A-levels and I was good at it. Every final major project was influenced by knitwear, and I specialised in knit for my final third year. I would describe the garments as being quite simplistic and neutral, however, with a unique twist. Finding a niche for knitwear was pretty hard. People assume that fashion designers are really out there and abstract with their designs, but a really good designer knows what will and will not sell. Sometimes it’s the simplistic designs that are popular, especially with high street stores. I work for Topshop and their briefs are quite strict, it’s sometimes hard restricting what I can do; however, the client knows their target audience and what they want. I would however love to create one off garments for boutiques rather than for the high street. Perhaps one day I will create couture knitwear! The ranges I design are minimalistic; however, I have recently made a collection for Topshop collaborating wool and leather. Experimenting reminded me of all of my favourite degree memories, and reminded me of how far I have actually come, which only pushed me further to keep experimenting. I’m currently designing pieces with zips and oversized buttons, I can’t give too much away but keep an eye out for my next S/S collection, and it’s going to be quite different. What is your favourite piece of equipment? If I’d have been asked whilst at London, I would have said my miniature vintage sewing machine. It’s absolutely adorable! My mum bought it for me as a little present for getting into university, and at the time I remember thinking that it was quite pointless, it is literally tiny. I thought I would barely use it, as my textile pieces were always large canvas’, however, I used it right through from first to third year, it was a lifesaver. It was duck egg blue and completely portable, it was brilliant to just pull out my sewing machine wherever I was and start creating samples. I think it excelled my creativity as I started creating miniature textile pieces that progressed and influenced my dissertation and final collection on childrenswear. I still have the sewing machine, however, now I couldn’t be without my knitting machine, this however isn’t miniature, it filled up almost the entire of my first studio!

Luckily, now that I’m a little bit more established I have a bigger studio and I’m able to move around without banging my hips and stubbing my toes in to it. Apart from that I love it! It’s so quick and accessable, which is perfect for when a client needs a deadline at short notice. Unfortunately, it isn’t vintage looking like the other equipment in my studio, it’s quite bulky and there’s strings of wool everywhere, I can’t remember the last time I got undressed without finding wool and threads everywhere, but I wouldn’t be without it, and would definitely recommend knitting machines, even for beginners. Practice always makes perfect. Where do you see your career heading? Where would you like to be in five years? I had no idea that this is where I would be after my degree. I love the thrill of not knowing, it’s so exciting but quite scary at the same time. Hopefully everything can just go up from here. Working for Topshop really is any fashion designers dream; however, I would love my own collections sold in my own boutique. Momentarily, everything is online, and I would love to expand and have my own little shop too. I don’t want anything too fancy but something simplistic and elegant that I can call my own. I work from my studios at the moment and I’d love to expand them too, but buying space is expensive, it is however, most definitely on my future to do list. I love that I could be living somewhere completely different within the next five years, I’ll go wherever my job will take me, and work my absolute hardest to make it successful.

Martini Cocktail Ingredients 50ml Tanqueray London Dry Gin 5ml Dry Vermouth 2.4 units of alcohol per serve Equipment 1 x Bar spoon 1 x Jigger 1 x Ice 1 x Strainer Method 1. Firstly, soak the edge of a cocktail or martini glass in fruit juice and press the juiced edge into a bowl of sugar creating the traditional cocktail edge. 2. Place the ice cubes into a bag surrounded by a towel and beat the ice cubes until gently crushed. Fill the cocktail shaker with the crushed ice cubes. 3. Measure 50ml Tanqueray London Dry Gin and 5ml dry vermouth into the cocktail shaker. 4. Vigorously shake the cocktail shaker for around 2 to 3 minutes, ensuring the mixture has settled and the shaker feels chilled. 5. Use a cocktail strainer to strain the liquid into a martini glass. Add a spiral of lime peel for taste and decoration. Prosecco cocktail Ingredients 4 Part Prosecco 1 Part sugar syrup 4 White peaches Method 1. Firstly soak the edge of a cocktail or martini glass in fruit juice, next press the juiced edge into a bowl of sugar creating the traditional cocktail edge. 2. Peel the skin from the peaches and set aside. Chop the peaches into pieces and carefully blend using a blender. Strain and keep refrigerated. 3. Once chilled, mix the peach puree with sugar syrup, add about 30ml of the peach mix into the champagne flute, depending on how strong you want the taste. 4. Very gently pour the prosecco into the glass, allowing it to not bubble over. Using a cocktail stirrer, stir the cocktail mix together, adding the peach spiral for decoration. 45

Faye Robinson, 18, travelled to the United Arab Emirates to experience the truly remarkable culture and sites that Dubai and Abu Dhabi have to offer. As I am always excited by the busyness of city life, I was particularly thrilled to be visiting Dubai after a relaxing five days spent in Abu Dhabi. Previous to the trip, I researched the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and discovered that religion plays a significant role in their culture. I found the culture contrast fascinating from the moment I arrived. Experiencing the luxury that UAE has to offer, we stayed in a five star hotel and felt like royalty, far from my student accommodation back in Newcastle! If you are open to accept the governing rules of the United Arab Emirates then Abu Dhabi is a stunning destination for a cultural sunny beach holiday. Before travelling to Dubai, we decided to take part in some activities that we could potentially never get the opportunity to do again for example Dune bashing. Dune bashing was hair raising and definitely worth a try if you are an adrenaline junkie! Having been picked up in a Jeep, which had a role cage inside, was terrifying enough before sliding down the dunes in a nervous state of laughter. Alternatively, if you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as mad as us then Abu Dhabi also has much more pleasurable activities to enjoy such as Kayaking; whilst catching a great tan it is amazing to lay back in the kayak and take in your surroundings in the crystal clear lakes. Knowing Dubai was a city destination, despite participating in activities I also made the most of the beach in Abu Dhabi, with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees every day throughout the trip was blissful. 46

Mosques can be found throughout the UAE, one of which I visited. It was an experience wearing the Abaya, a traditional Muslim dress, taking part in their religion and being considerate of the Muslim rules. Entry to the mosque is free, so a brilliant worthwhile trip all round. At the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, we were greeted welcomingly by two trainee guides and given an hour tour of the grounds viewing its stunning architecture. Inside, the walls were vastly decorated with breathtaking design details that inspired me greatly as a fashion design student. From my experience the architecture in the UAE was admirable, every detail in the mosques to the dazzling city sky lines are a must see. In comparison to Abu Dhabi, it was clear to see the differences as we entered Dubai. Although the culture is very important, Dubai had a different feel and was overall more relaxed in a traditional way. Whilst travelling, I appreciated tasting and experiencing authentic cuisines. Dubai offers a wide range of restaurant varieties of which cuisines can be tasted from every country across the globe. If you are interested in a trip to UAE I would definitely recommend visiting both destinations as they have very different and amazing attributes.

As an enthusiastic Fashion student I was keen to explore Dubai further, knowing they had some amazing Souks involving textiles, gold and spices I couldn’t resist a visit. Having no knowledge as to where the Souks were, the concierge kindly directed us to the nearest Metro station; they were a lot bigger and modern in comparison to the rickety trains back home in the North East. The trains had separate sections for women and children, which was unusual to see. However, it was nice as it meant we could escape the hot, and busyness of the ordinary carriages. After about six stops, we eventually got off the train and had a short walk to the marina where we could catch a taxi boat over to the Souks. It was so hot, but we were distracted by the amazing culture and architecture that it didn’t matter one bit. The locals played cricket in the streets and everything was very friendly and there was a clear sense of community. Although the surroundings were stunning, approaching the Souks we were apprehensive, you could feel the atmosphere change as you entered the more religious area of Dubai compared to the city centre.

Dressed appropriately, we were fine to enter the Souks and freely explore the amazing items they had to offer; it wasn’t as scary as we originally thought! Strolling through the bright, eye catching gold market, it was clear to see the luxurious and wealthy lifestyle of Dubai. Un deterred, we looked in several shops in ore at the exquisite jewellery pieces, dreaming about owning something as amazing when I’m older. Later that day, the heat was blazing, after quick refreshments and a sit down we headed to the textiles Souk- I couldn’t wait! Although the men at the stalls were constantly pushing a hard sell, it was still an unbelievable experience. The colours were beautiful and everything was so detailed and appealing, I even considered buying a new suitcase to bring the entire lot home for my family, friends and of course my student flat! After much deliberation over several scarves and bags, I failed miserably at bartering and paid 60 dirhams for two amazing pieces. It turns out, 60 Dirhams amounts to £13 so I bagged myself quite a bargain! If you enjoy the experinence of bartering at markets then Dubai Souks are worth a visit. The exclusive pieces, experience and sites are unforgettable. 49

“Completely lost, but lost in the right direction” Essential ingredients when travelling: - Common sense - Appropriate equipment - Awareness and spontaneity Sarah, 22. During the summer of 2014, a group of us travelled to the south of Thailand. The idea was riveting, however, the reality was so daunting. I’m not much of a home girl, and I have travelled to many holiday destinations with family and friends over the years. However, the independence of travelling for someone who had never even caught a train before was very intimidating! In fact, the train to London for Heathrow airport was the first train journey, and that itself was a complete experience! Passing through crowds of people with what felt like a rucksack of bricks was certainly an experience. Not one to travel lightly, even after I had packed, unpacked and packed again my bag still weighed a tonne. However, it wasn’t until I got to the airport that I realised I’d been reading my weighing scales upside down and my bag weighed 10kg lighter than I had thought! On just day one, I’d had a nightmare packing, could have packed much more than I thought, had struggled to Heathrow airport and my blonde adventure hadn’t even started yet! Tip one for travelling; learn to read scales the right way around and perhaps maps too. 50

Arriving in Thailand our first stop was Khoa Sok national park, it was beautiful and almost enchanting. We stayed in what could only be described as sort of magical forest of hippies. It was very commercialised and specifically for tourists, however, as first time travellers visiting a tourist attraction was brilliant. Tree houses stood high through clouds of trees, inside they were cramped, damp and insect ridden but perfect and quirky in its own little way. Unfortunately, the weather was absolutely disastrous, torrential downpours almost constantly, which looking back added to the mystical atmosphere. Being a fashion student, I had envisioned sweet outfits to wear on my travels, as Coco Chanel said “everyday is a fashion show and the world is the runway.” My vision went out of the window and the four of us lived and relied so heavily on our ponchos. Beautiful rivers surrounded the national park and we took part in many river activities, which proved to be our most treasured memories. We kayaked through storms; I still definitely have the muscles to prove how much of a struggle it was steering a kayak.

However, no matter how hard I tried everyone was just so frustrated at my lack of steering as I was only actually steering us backwards and splashing around. Clearly kayaking wasn’t for me. Tubing however was an absolutely fantastic experience! It was advertised as a relaxing river ride, lying in rubber dinghies floating downstream. My experience however, was far from relaxing. All of us spent the entire journey being thrown down the river, lashed at by trees and completely underwater. It was without a doubt, the scariest but most favoured Thailand memory. Nothing makes you appreciate the value of travelling like a near death experience. Tip two for travelling; ponchos are essential due to the unpredictability of the weather and don’t underestimate the difficulty of kayaking. Thailand as a whole is breath taking. The photographs do not do the scenes we saw justice. It really is the perfect place to be lost in, but lost in the right direction. The rivers and surrounding areas of Phuket are perfect. The hotels are exceptionally luxurious, a complete opposite to the cultural spirit of Bangkok. We fluttered from beach huts, tree houses and 5* resorts, taking advantage of the full experience that Thailand has to offer. We trekked through jungles, slept in hammocks and generally just tried to experience as much as we could. Thailand is full of breath taking beaches, therefore, it was important for us to take time from our hectic exploring and relax for a few days on the beach, swinging from the seats roped onto trees and jet skiing. I loved Jet skiing, but it is ridiculously hard to do whilst in fits of laugher and considerably different to driving a car. It turns out that I’m terrible at kayaking and jet skiing! To calm ourselves down from our jet skiing experiences we took a swim in the sea. The sea is completely clear and watching all the fish peacefully swim by was so relaxing. However, it wasn’t too relaxing when they nibbled on your toes, but that aside with the warmth of the sun and the twinkling reflection on the clear sea was absolutely perfect.

As the day grew somewhat darker, with the sea cooling down slightly, we swam through discarded bags making our way back to the sand, all of us in complete shock as to where they had come from. After speaking to a local, they confirmed that these floating bags were in fact dangerous jellyfish! Tip three for travelling; look out for the dangerous jelly fish. Culturally, Bangkok was fantastic, and a complete eye opener. Poverty was everywhere and complete normality, however, the locals were exceptionally lovely, and would quite happily go out of their way to ensure tourists were enjoying their stay. Thailand seemed to be heavily reliant on tourists using the daytime activities on offer and taking advantage of their fantastic nightlife. Bangkok is known for its nightlife, and the clash of both genders, a factor I proved to be completely naïve and know absolutely nothing about. Koh San road, a full strip of bars serving their Thai Chang beer and cocktails was very exciting. The atmosphere was fantastic, there was clashing music echoing down the strip and signs for shows almost everywhere. Spontaneously, we attended one of the Thai shows, assuming it to be a cultural or even educational visit. Excited and naïve we walked into one of the bars only to be greeted by topless waitresses, or what we thought was a waitress. Embarrassed at our lack of knowledge, whilst hysterically laughing, we skipped out of the bar faster than we walked in! Tip four for travelling; spontaneity is always good, but keep an open mind.

2. Soak the entire of both noodle contents into a large bowl with boiled water to soften the noodles for around 15 minutes, and to also ensure they do not stick to the frying pan. Drain the water well after to stop the noodles from turning soggy.

Pad Thai Ingredients 200g Pack rice noodles 100g Egg noodles 3 Tbsp fish sauce 1 Garlic clove 2 Spring onions 1 Pepper 2 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 Egg 100g Diced chicken 75g Beansprouts 30g Salted peanuts, crushed to serve Pinch of salt Lime/ lemon wedge

3. Next, crush 15g of the salted peanuts and mix with the fish sauce adding a pinch of salt for flavour if desired. 4, Add oil to a frying pan using a high heat; gently add the chicken to avoid oil splashes with the diced garlic for flavour. Once cooked, add the peppers and spring onions. Cook for a maximum of 3 minutes, as the vegetables should remain al dente creating the Thailand cultural taste. 5. Create a circle within the centre of the chicken and vegetables; crack the egg into the centre. The egg needs to be constantly stirred until it resembles scrambled eggs.

Method 1. To prepare, wash and finely dice the assortment of vegetables, ensuring the ends of the peppers and spring onions have been cut. Peel and finely dice the garlic.

6. Add both contents of the noodles and the beansprouts, followed by the fish sauce. Toss everything together and heat thoroughly. Sprinkle the remanding peanuts and the lime or lemon wedges for presentation. 54

Kao Thai Ingredients 1/2 Cup of diced carrots 1/2 Cup of diced peppers 1/2 Cup of green beans 1/4 Cup vegetable oil 1/2 Tablespoon fresh gingerroot, minced 2 Tablespoons garlic cloves, minced 6 Short grain cups cooked rice 2 Eggs, lightly beaten 1 Cup fresh tomato, chopped 2 Tablespoons thai sriraja chili sauce 2 Tablespoons of soy sauce 1/2 Lime, juice of 1/2 Lime, cut into thin wedges Method

2. Heat the oil in a wok, stir frying the garlic cloves and ginger, heat for around 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully remove the garlic and ginger paste and put aside for later. 3.Depending on taste, add the al dente vegetables first to the wok and then the soft vegetables, stir fry the vegetables until just cooked. Set aside the vegetables from the wok adding a teaspoon of the paste for extra flavouring. 4. Carefully add the rice to the wok and heat thoroughly again until just cooked. Create a circle within the centre of the rice, pouring in the beaten eggs. Ensure the eggs are almost cooked and quite well set before stirring in the rice mixture. Add the chopped tomatoes, the reserved stir fried vegetables and ginger and garlic paste. 5.To complete add soy sauce, chili sauce and a sprinkle of lime for extra flavour.

1. Chop and dice the vegetables, preferably using a combination creating colour and texture for a cultural look and taste.

Falafel fritters Ingredients 1 x 400 g Tin of mixed beans 1 x 400 g Tin of chickpeas 1 Lemon/lime 1 Tablespoon harissa 1 Heaped teaspoon allspice 1 Heaped tablespoon plain flour 1 Bunch fresh coriander 50g Chopped onions Olive oil

Tabbouleh Ingredients 25g/1oz Bulgur wheat 2 Large, ripe vine tomatoes Large bunch fresh flatleaf parsley, leaves only, washed, dried and finely chopped 1 Small bunch of fresh mint leaves, washed, dried and finely chopped 1 Small red onion, peeled and finely chopped 2-3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 2-3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Sea salt flakes Mixed spices 4 Ready-made flatbreads, to serve

Method

1. To prepare, soak the chickpeas and beans in cold water over night, softening the beans in preparation to be blended. If desired, add spices to marinate the beans.

1. Sprinkle the bulgar wheat ensuring thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no clumps, place the wheat into a bowl pouring in 70ml of boiled water. After stirring set this aside for 30 minutes allowing the wheat to absorb the water.

2. Carefully grate the lemon or lime zest into the grater, adding drained chickpeas and beans. Add the harissa, allspice, the plain flour and the coriander.

2. Prepare the tomatoes by removing the stalks and create small crosses at the base of the tomatoes, as with the wheat soak these in boiling water allowing to stand. After 60 seconds, carefully drain away the water, peel the skins and dice the tomatoes either into quarters or halves depending on how you would prefer. Put aside into a serving bowl.

3. Finely chop the onions and add to the mix. 4. Blend until completely smooth, creating a paste. Carefully pour out the mixture and divide into equal circular shapes approximately 2cm thick. Roll the falafels in sesame seeds, creating flavour and texture.

3. Add spices, herbs and onions to both the bulgar wheat and tomatoes, creating an oriental taste.

5. Add 1 tablespoon of oil into the frying pan, add garlic and a sprinkle of spices for extra taste. Add the falafels to the spiced oil, turning when crisp and golden.

4. Once the bulgar wheat has absorbed the water, whisk and fluff with a fork separating the grains and then adding this to the spiced tomatoes.

Served best with tahini sauce, mixed spices with flatbread or toasted tortillas.

5. Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice to create extra seasoning. Sprinkle salt and extra spices if required. Served best with grilled flatbreads and hummus.

_____________________ â&#x20AC;&#x153;The journey of a thousand miles b _____________________

_______________ begins with a single step.â&#x20AC;? - Lao- Tzu _______________

£6.50