Contour 2023

CONTOUR FASHION at De Montfort University (DMU) has consistently maintained a global reputation for developing talented new generations of intimate apparel designers and communicators.

The course celebrates its 76th year and we are delighted to showcase our graduating students. We produce outstanding graduates in Contour Fashion and Contour Fashion Communication, who demonstrate refined aesthetic design skills and construction, technological excellence, innovation and trend awareness within the fields of lingerie, corsetry, swimwear, nightwear, loungewear, menswear, sportswear, athleisure and medical applications.

This is supported by wider affiliations with industry partners with an alignment to sustainability, underpinning multiple industry skills.

By nurturing their talent and creativity, we encourage our students not only to meet expectations, but to challenge and exceed them.

We are proud to liaise with major international companies, and our graduates are employed across the globe, as designers, technical specialists and communicators. The list of companies is extensive and includes Lounge, Stretchline, Crystal International Group Limited, Aura, Panache Lingerie, Skims, Freetrain, Wacoal, Marks & Spencer, Boux Avenue, Concepts Paris, Gymshark, Fabletics, Coutille, Starkers Group, Curvy Kate, Bravissimo, Tommy Hilfiger Amsterdam, Inqube, Hunkemoller, N.Brown, Puma, Coco de Mer, Studio Pia, Adidas, Bluebella, House of CB, Bordelle, Gainway International, Naturana, Jenny Packham, Next, Oh Polly, Pour Moi, Mal Amora, and Shadowline. Entrepreneurship is also encouraged with some graduates establishing their own brands including Nichole de Carle, Karolina Laskowska, Elissa Poppy and Roshni Desai.

The class of 2023 have made us particularly proud due to their resilience and adaptation within a constantly changing landscape in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout their periods of online teaching, early in their studies, our students swiftly rose to the challenge and maintained their innate determination to achieve, and have continued to do so, securing outstanding results of which we, as a staff team, are immensely proud.

On behalf of our students graduating from the Contour Fashion BA (Hons) course for 2023, we are truly delighted to showcase their skills, innovation and creativity.

Rachel Toner BA (HONS) MA(RCA) FHEA

Programme Leader for Contour Fashion and Contour Fashion Communication

rtoner@dmu.ac.uk

www.dmu.ac.uk/contourfashion

Instagram - contourfashiondmu

LOUNGE UNDERWEAR EXTERNAL CLIENT PROJECT 2023

Lounge Underwear was established in 2015, and have DMU graduates amongst their creative and technical product design teams. The brand has a mission to deliver ‘Comfort Made Sexy’ with over three million followers currently on Instagram.

The final year students were set a live brief by Lounge to design a six-piece collection for spring/summer 24 affiliated to a deep awareness of sustainable development goals, fresh consumer trends, innovative fabrications and fashion forward shapes.

Ten finalists were invited to the brand’s headquarters in Birmingham to present their collections and showcase their finished outfits, in addition to enjoying an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of their new office spaces.

First Place - Ruby Godefroy

Second Place - Tierney Stoneman

Third Place - Eleanor Edwards

Commendations went to: Francisca Santos

“Ruby greatly impressed the judges with a technically advanced and feminine lingerie collection”

Georgia Perry - Head of People, Emily Blount – Head of Product and Lucy Ward - Lead Product Developer.

Ruby Godefroy Tierney Stoneman

Eleanor Edwards Francisca Santos

SKIMS EXTERNAL CLIENT PROJECT 2023

The company was founded in June 2019. SKIMS is the new, solution focused approach to shape enhancing undergarments.

This year, for the first time, we liaised with Laura Buckle (Director of Global Recruitment and Talent) and Jaimi Gayden (Senior HR Manager) to secure a design project to research and develop sports bras. This was offered to both second and third year students. The students were given the opportunity to visit LA and the finalists invited to present their work within the Skims Head Offices. The second year winning student (Esme McNeill) secured a one year placement with Skims and the third year winner (Tierney Stoneman) was awarded three months work experience.

It was an incredible opportunity for all and we hope to continue this relationship.

Tierney Stoneman

Esme McNeill

FINAL WORDS FROM UNDERLINES

Each year, our great supporter, Pamela Scott, Managing Editor of the global magazine Underlines, showcases the Contour course by capturing the students’ External Client project work. This year the project featured Lounge underwear.

Concluding words from Pamela:

“Congratulations to the graduates of 2023 - the past few years have not been easy for these students who have had to overcome difficulties during the COVID pandemic and uncertain economic and political times. The valuable experience and training at De Montfort University with the knowledge and resilience they have gained will bode well for their future. It is sure to be a big one with this talented class.”

Ist Place- Ruby Godefroy

2nd Place - Tierney Stoneman

3rd Place- Eleanor Edwards

Freetrain was established in 2011, by co-founders James Wren and Jack Dyer, two former professional athletes who met playing football. They researched into improving the enjoyment of our workouts, and with an eye on a future away from football, they looked to create something to help adapt working out to a rapidly evolving modern world.

This year, for the first time, we liaised with Fay Fowler, and Alex While from Freetrain, setting a project to design a commercial collection of active/sportswear contour outfits for 2023/24. This provided a complete foundation in the creative process relating to creative design. Freetrain were impressed with the professional level of work produced via presentations, at this level of study.

Commendations: Mara James, Lauren Wells and Madi Mitchell

MET GALA

This second-year project continues to secure innate innovation and potential, intricately developed into a variance of contour products and encourages freedom of choice regarding areas of intimates researched, supporting a wider creative spirit. Final designs are showcased and judged by an industry panel, this year including Emily Major and Nicola Gunby (Wacoal Europe/Freya Lingerie), Luisa Sidoli (Tatu Couture Lingerie), Tara O’Donovan, Georgia Myatt and Georgia Haffenden (Boux Avenue Design), Kelly Alleyne and Joanne Wickham (Marks & Spencer).

The industry panel selected winners:

First Place - Minju Jeong

Second Place - Katrina Plowman

Third Place - Katie Winter

Commendations go to the following students: Amy Dibben, Eden Lissart-Jones, India Concannon

Winner: Maddison Bowness

Minju Jeong

Katrina Plowman

Katie Winter

JOHN LEWIS SECOND YEAR PROJECT

This was an exciting promotional 2D project capturing sustainability and innovation within a commercial arena. Students presented to the client which secured a great opportunity to share their personal creative progression with reflective industry support. Mark Finerty, (Category Design Lead at John Lewis – Underwear, Swimwear and Nightwear and Hayley Fischer – Designer – Swim and Beachwear) provided invaluable feedback to promote industry-aligned design development of student outcomes.

The fortunate winners will receive mentorship throughout their final year projects from both Mark and Hayley, who will offer support and guidance as they progress their studies.

The Winners were:

Brand Alignment -Madeleine Moore

Forward Thinking -Esme McNeill

Commendations: Sophie Burton, Ellie Hunt, Katie Winter

Brand Alignment – Madeleine Moore

Forward Thinking – Esme McNeill

FASHANNE AWARDS 2023

Initiated by BBC East Midlands Today news anchor Anne Davies, the Fashanne regional awards are an annual highlight showcasing work from a number of Universities across the midlands. This year four Contour Fashion students secured places in the following categories for this competition, which was a great achievement:

Lily-Rose Mellor - Sustainability

Francisca Santos - Athleisure

Abi Free - Athleisure

Charlie

- ASBCI Innovation Award

Gower

Abi Free Athleisure

Charlie Gower ASBCI Innovation Award

Francisca Santos Athleisure

Lily-Rose Mellor Sustainability

2022 celebrated the graduation of our second cohort of Contour Fashion Innovation MA students and those from our first cohort studying part time. Their research covered a diverse range of specialist topics, each fundamentally underpinned by sustainable practice using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for defining sustainability.

Massive congratulations:

Jordan Arthur Rose James

Vibin Baburaj

Phoebe Jimenez-Lewis

Marcus Bearder Shauna King

Shannon Bentham Megan Lay

Meghana Gupta

Alma Robles

Notable commendations go to Phoebe Jimenez-Lewis for winning DMU’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Sports Award for designing sustainable breast guards for use in women’s contact sports! Also to Rose James for her successful application to DMU’s coveted Crucible entrepreneurship programme.

Those of you who were able to visit this year’s exhibition at Leicester’s LCB Depot for Fashion Season will I’m sure agree that the work was exciting and thought-provoking.

We are also delighted to be working with a wonderful new cohort of Masters students who are researching into performance aesthetic, adaptability of fit, absorbency product development and 3D printing, to name a few areas. This year marked our first external client project with Freetrain, which was run as a competition. Alicia Miller’s Period-proof sports legging concept was selected as winner and she will spend a month with Freetrain at their premises in Birmingham as a result – well done to Alicia! Many thanks to Freetrain for their involvement and fantastic support throughout the project. Huge thanks also to our wonderful concepts panel: Emmaline Vaughan Ronson from Source Lingerie Ltd and Percy Emmett and to all of our wonderful industry partners including Claire Lee, Monica Harrington and Michael Condon who have supported the Masters this year. Your involvement is invaluable and means so much.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you or your company would be interested in supporting a Masters project or if you are interested in postgraduate study yourself.

To find out more:

Contact: Catherine Livingstone - catherine.livingstone@dmu.ac.uk dmu.ac.uk/contourfashioninnovation

CONTOUR

2023

Abigail Free

Alexandra Lidbury

Alice Scott

Beth Frith

Charlie Monique Gower

Ellesseia Cluley

Eleanor-Joy Edwards

Francisca Santos

Georgia Graham

Georgia Jarmolkiewicz

Geri Harold

Haemi Cho

Hannah Cutler

Heidi Wagstaff

Imogen Sullivan

Isobelle Lodge

Jessica Brown

Katrina Horne

Kay Jenkinson

Kya Addison

Lily-Rose Mellor

Maiya Rayat-Lal

Meera Wood

Mia Turner

Molly Ashcroft

Olivia Anupama Amaragiri

Olivia Gedny

Olivia Macklam

Ruby Tallulah Godefroy

Sophie Mae Field

Sophie Smales

Tierney Stoneman

Yami Mkumba

Younghye Han

CONTOUR FASHION

DESIGN

ELEANOR-JOY EDWARDS

Project Title: In Sickness and in Health

email: Eleanorjoy.02@gmail.com instagram: eleanoredwards_contour

SOPHIE MAE FIELD

Project Title: Ostentatious

email: sophiemaefield@gmail.com instagram: sophiemaecontour

Project Title: Serenity

email: kay.a.jenko@icloud.com instagram: kay.a.jenkinson_design

JESSICA BROWN

Project Title: Elegant Forms

email: Jessbrown3003@gmail.com

Project Title: Mi Amor

email: smalessophie10@gmail.com

GEORGIA GRAHAM

Project Title: Crimson Links

email: Georgiag987@yahoo.co.uk instagram: Gsg_contour

IMOGEN SULLIVAN

Project Title: Opposites Attract

email: ImogenEviSullivan@gmail.com instagram: Justaseamstress

HANNAH CUTLER

Project Title: What Didn’t Kill Me… email: hannahcutler7@gmail.com instagram: he_contour

FRANCISCA SANTOS

Project Title: Take a hike!

email: franciscabsantos.22@gmail.com instagram: fran.contour

GEDNY

OLIVIA ANUPAMA AMARAGIRI

Project Title: Can I have this when you die? An ode to Indian heritage jewellery

email: olivia.amaragiri@gmail.com

ISOBELLE LODGE

Project Title: Nebula-41

email: isobellelodgeart@gmail.com instagram: izzilodge.design

HAEMI CHO

Project Title: Kontemporary

email: jhm4747@gmail.com

instagram: haecontour

BETH FRITH

Project Title: La Belle Vie

email: Bethanfrith@gmail.com instagram: bethfrith.contour

HEIDI WAGSTAFF

Project Title: La beauté naturelle sous l’océan

email: heidi.wagstaff17@outlook.com instagram: hw_contour

GERI HAROLD

Project Title: The Art of Compassion

email: geriharold@hotmail.com instagram: geriharolddesign

RUBY TALLULAH GODEFROY

Project Title: The Constraint of Darkness

email: rubytallulahgodefroy@gmail.com instagram: ruby.tallulahh

TIERNEY STONEMAN

Project Title: Amphitrite

email: Tierneyjasmin@icloud.com instagram: tierney_jasmin_design

YAMI MKUMBA

Project Title: The Revenge of Medusa

email: imaycontour@gmail.com instagram: imay_contour

LILY-ROSE MELLOR

Project Title: Drive Me Crazy email: Lilyrose.mellor122@hotmail.com instagram: mellor_designs

KYA ADDISON

Project Title: Sovereign Sinners

email: Addisonkya@gmail.com

instagram: kya_contour_fashion

ALICE SCOTT

Project Title: Pixie Subversion

email: xalicescottx@gmail.com

instagram: alicevicdesigns

MIA TURNER

Project Title: Flora’s Temple

email: miaturner132@gmail.com

MAIYA RAYAT-LAL

Project Title: Queen Of The South email: maiyarlal@outlook.com instagram: lingerie.bymaiya

YOUNGHYE HAN

Project Title: Moon Rabbit

email: gksdud1951@gmail.com

MEERA WOOD

Project Title: Trajva - Gujarati Traditional Tattoos

email: meera.wood@gmail.com instagram: intimatesbymeera

CONTOUR FASHION

COMMUNICATION

MOLLY ASHCROFT

email: mollyashcroft@sky.com instagram: theoffshoreissue

THANK YOU

The Contour Fashion BA (Hons) and Contour Fashion Communication BA (Hons) graduates of 2023 would like to express thanks to the teaching staff and technical teams for their unwavering support, patience, and dedication throughout this year.

An additional thankyou to all of our specialised partners for their on-going support and generosity in nurturing the future of our industry.

Lounge Underwear, Stretchline, Crystal International Group Limited, Naturana, Aura, Skims, Next, Bemis, Mollie Falkingham, Pam Scott, Underlines Magazine, John Lewis, Carvico, Hyosung, Claire O’Neill, K. Newman, Nigel Cheney, Boux Avenue, Boselli, Wacoal, Freya, F.Ciment Pleating, Contour Specialist Fabrics, Fildan, Tian Hai Lace, Concepts Paris, Sian Revill & Alice Snell, Sew Systems, Panache Lingerie, Gainway International, N.Brown, Nevs, MMG Models.

Tutors and Technical team:

Rachel Toner, Julie Swinfield, Laurie Truscott, Catherine Livingstone, Abbie Swinfield, Emma Rose, Buddy Penfold, Tracey Morris, Angela Legge, Kinga Bochenska-Colinet, Kelly McRobie, Jadzia Garrett, Chris Wright, Jo Earl, Rob Jones, Sophie Ison Dawson, Alex Palmer, Graham Lee, Chris Ball, Claire Baines, Michaela Hawes, Rob Leary, Anna Wang, Nigel Essex, Will Baker, Stuart Lambert and his wonderful team.

Brochure:

Design: Alan Beattie

Cover Image: Alan Beattie/Midjourney

Collation: Rachel Toner, Abbie Swinfield, Julie Swinfield, Laurie Truscott, Emma Rose, Catherine Livingstone.

Photography: Nigel Essex - Techical Instructor - Photography

Make-up and Hair: Alice Snell - aliceoliviasnell@gmail.com

Models: Ivy P - accounts@mmgmodels.com Danielle Zarb-Cousin - danielle.zarbcousin@googlemail.com

CONTOUR

est:1947

For further information please contact:

Rachel Toner - Programme Leader Contour Fashion De Montfort University

Vijay Patel Building 4th Floor, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH

Tel:0116 257 7527

Email: rtoner@dmu.ac.uk

www.dmu.ac.uk/contourfashion Instagram - contourfashiondmu