CONTOUR FASHION at De Montfort University (DMU) has consistently maintained a global reputation for developing talented new generations of intimate apparel designers. The course celebrates its 77th year in 2024, and we are delighted, once again, to showcase our graduating students. We produce outstanding graduates in Contour Fashion, 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, product developers, technical specialists and trend researchers. The list of companies is extensive and includes Lounge, Stretchline, Crystal International Group Limited, Aura, Panache Lingerie, Skims, Sweaty Betty, 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, WGSN, 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 2024 have made us particularly proud due to their resilience and adaptation within a constantly changing landscape in response to the latter effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout their studies, our students swiftly rose to the challenges they faced 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 2024, we are truly delighted to showcase their skills, innovation and creativity.
Rachel Toner BA (Hons) MA(RCA) FHEA Programme Leader for Contour Fashion rtoner@dmu.ac.uk
www.dmu.ac.uk/contourfashion @contourfashiondmu
WELCOME
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
LOUNGE UNDERWEAR – PLATINUM SPONSOR We are once again honoured and delighted to have Lounge as a Platinum sponsor for 2024. Lounge have partnered with us for the last four years, supporting the final year within an External Client project, which has been a great success. We thank them for their continual unwavering support of our students and the programme.
‘Celebrating a Year of Achievements!
Congratulations to all the students of the 2024 Contour Fashion cohort! Each year, we are genuinely amazed by the incredible level of innovation and technical expertise displayed by all the DMU Contour graduates. It is truly inspiring to see the hard work and dedication of the next generation of designers and developers as they begin their journeys in the industry.
We feel privileged to work with such talented and passionate students each year. Your creativity and commitment never cease to impress us, and we eagerly look forward to seeing the exciting new ideas and projects that will emerge in the coming year. Thank you for making this partnership so rewarding and special. Here’s to another fantastic year ahead!’
Emily Blount Head of Product
Georgia Perry Chief People Officer
STRETCHLINE – PLATINUM SPONSOR We are once again delighted to have Stretchline as Platinum sponsors for 2024. They have been consistent supporters of the Contour Fashion course and their generosity in sharing with students technically aligned, future focussed information appertaining to global industrial developments are so welcomed. We hope to continue with this collaboration for years to come.
“ We’re thrilled to announce our ongoing sponsorship of this year’s Contour Fashion show, marking the 77th anniversary of the DMU Contour Fashion course. Rooted in De Montfort University’s rich legacy, we stand as committed partners, fuelled by their relentless pursuit of innovation and creativity.
With each passing year, the runway transforms into a platform for the next generation of industry trailblazers. As we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2024, we’re awed by their journey, culminating in the creation of daring, avant-garde garments. It’s a privilege to be woven into the fabric of DMU’s cutting-edge Contour Fashion course and featured in the students’ visionary designs.
Every year, emerging talents infuse the industry with new energy and ideas. We look forward to future collaborations that may lie ahead as we continue to champion innovation and excellence in the fashion world.”
BILLION RISE - BRONZE SPONSOR For the first time, we are delighted to have Billion Rise Knitting as Bronze Sponsor. Steve Moore, Global Head of Sales and Marketing, has supported the students in delivering technical presentations capturing fabrication and technicality within the global textile industry currently. We look forward to a rich and continuing liaison, and thank Billion Rise for their extensive sharing of knowledge to enhance the student awareness of textile manufacture and future facing developments.
“Billion Rise is proud and enthused to be sponsoring the class of 2024 and very much welcomes the opportunity to support DMU, it’s students and the industry we all love. We wish the graduates a successful future in whichever field they choose and eagerly await the time their talent, passion and innovative thinking emerges to help drive brands and retailers forward!”
‘ Well done to all the students of 2024 – amazing talent ! ‘
CONTENTS
1.
Student achievements and industry collaborations
2. 3.
Class of 2024 Final Major Projects
THANK YOU
Thank you and final words
1. HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST YEAR: Sweaty Betty.
This year, for the first time, we liaised with Sweaty Betty via alumna Sarah Platts-Winslow, Performance Design Manager, setting a project to design a =commercial collection of active/ sportswear contour outfits for 2024/25. This provided a complete foundation in the creative process relating to creative design. Sarah provided invaluable feedback to our students, encouraging and supporting them in the progression of their projects.
The Winner: Maria Espinosa – Sanchez
Runner Up: Katie Lewis
Commendations: Jasmine Lee, Kathryn Davies, Charlotte Whittaker
The winner won the opportunity to shadow various members of the Sweaty Betty team (including design, development, print and colour, visual merchandising, and buying) over the course of 5 days at their HQ in Kings Cross, London, in addition to receiving a Sweaty Betty goody bag.
Sarah Platts - Winslow on the winner:
“Maria’s project was a pleasure to see; she appropriately rooted her concept in historic female empowerment and melded that with a thoroughly modern and commercial colour palette... Enormous well done to Maria!”
Maria Espinosa - Sanchez
HIGHLIGHTS
The winner will receive mentorship throughout their final year projects from Mark Finerty, Category Design Lead at John Lewis – Underwear, Swimwear and Nightwear, who will offer support and guidance as they progress their studies.
The winners of this project were:
First Place: Maddison Bowness
Second Place: Mara James
Third Place (joint): Amelia Frost
Third Place (joint): Madi Mitchell
Mark Finerty on the winner:
“ Maddie showed a beautiful level of colour and a clear and consistent thought process throughout the project. Looking at a good range of inspiration and how this all layered together for great depth of thought process. The whole project was laid out in a professional and beautiful way, ending with a lovely line-up of commercial, modern and contemporary product. “
SECOND YEAR
John Lewis
John Lewis once again supported us in an exciting promotional 2D project capturing sustainability and innovation within a commercial arena. Students presented digital Lookbooks to the client which secured a great opportunity to share their personal creative progression with reflective industry support. Mark Finerty from JOHN LEWIS & PARNTNERS provided invaluable feedback to promote industry-aligned design development of student outcomes.
Maddie Bowness
WINNERS
First Place: Funmi Ogundimu, Second Place: Meryn Parry, Third Place: Niamh West.
Commendations went to: Esther Makin.
THIRD YEAR: LOUNGE
Funmi Ogundimu
Meryn Parry
Niamh West
EXTERNAL CLIENT
Lounge Underwear was established in 2015, and has DMU graduates amongst their creative and technical product design teams. The brand has a mission to deliver ‘Comfort Made Sexy’ with over four 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 25 affiliated to a deep awareness of sustainable development goals, fresh consumer trends, innovative fabrications and fashion forward shapes. Thirteen finalists were invited to the brand’s HQ in Birmingham to present their collections and showcase their finished outfits, in addition to enjoying an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of their stunning office spaces.
The Lounge team judging on the day were:
Georgia Perry: Head of People
Emily Blount: Head of Product
Thom Smith: Senior Talent Acquisition Manager
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 second-year project continues to secure innate innovation and potential, intricately developed into a variance of contour products. This 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 Joanne Wickham and Alice Smith (Marks & Spencer), Luisa Sidoli (Tatu Couture Lingerie), Georgina Bibby and Talia Platts (Next), Emmaline Vaughan – Ronson (Source Lingerie).
MET GALA
First Place – Maddie Bowness Second Place – Mara James Third Place – Belle Callander Commendations went to: Lauren Wells and Eve Cunningham
“The level of creativity, craftsmanship, and overall quality of work from the 2nd year students blew me away. It really made me realize how exciting it is to be a part of the Contour Course, with access to amazing resources and technologies that make it world-renowned’
Luisa Sidoli ( Tatu Couture Lingerie)
Maddie Bowness
VICTORIAS SECERET
This year, for the first time, we worked together with Victoria’s Secret on a special project with our Level 5 students, supporting an intimates design project. This was a collaborative process where students learned first-hand from industry experts about the process it takes to turn their creative ideas into a commercialized design. The winner will have the opportunity join Victoria’s Secret in New York City for a year-long job placement.
The winning student was Maddie Bowness.
MA
Contour Fashion Innovation MA/MSc is part of the School of Fashion and Textiles at DMU. This school is highly acclaimed for its creativity and research outputs, notably for its commitment to sustainability and work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are used as a framework for sustainable education throughout our curriculum.
Contour Fashion Innovation is now offered as either an MA or an MSc qualification to accommodate the diverse interests and professional demands of its students.
It is our aspiration to initiate further research and transformation to meet the needs of the industry, and to serve as an incubator for the future change-makers of the sector. The programme promotes a dynamic and cooperative community, with every student gaining from each other’s diverse experiences, as well as from the programme of study. It encourages visionary, innovative practice and a critical approach to contemporary global challenges.
Maddie Bowness
JAGODA BLAZEJEWSKA
PRISCILLA BROWN
SOPHIE BURTON
INDIA CONCANNON
ISABELLA COOTE
TIGERLILY CORLEY
AMY DIBBEN
EVANGELINE GARDINER
SHANICE GODDARD
VENUS HALE
ELLIE HUNT
AMELIA GRACE JOHNSTON
GEORGIA KENNEDY
HOLLY LAVERY
ESTHER MAKIN
MADELEINE MOORE
MEGAN NIX
OLUWAFUNMILAYO OGUNDIMU
MERYN PARRY
NIAMH WEST
COLLECTIONS
E: hollylavery2905@hotmail.com
HOLLY LAVERY
LUCIA
PRISCILLA BROWN
I: @priscilla.ayesha
E: priscilla.ayesha@gmail.com
QIANLI
E: Indiajane200@gmail.com
VENUS
THANK YOU
The Contour Fashion BA (Hons) graduates of 2024 would like to express thanks to the teaching staff and technical teams for their unwavering support, patience, and dedication throughout this year. An additional thank you to all of our specialised partners for their on-going support and generosity in nurturing the future of our industry. Lounge Underwear, Stretchline, Billion -Rise Knitting, Steven Moore, Harrison Tatem-Wyatt, Tian Hai, the VS Team, Pam Scott, Underlines Magazine, Concepts Paris, Naturana, Skims, Next, Bemis, John Lewis, Crystal International Group Limited, Carvico, Hyosung, Claire O’Neill, K. Newman, Nigel Cheney, Mollie Falkingham, M&S, Boux Avenue, Boselli, Wacoal, Freya, F.Ciment Pleating, Contour Specialist Fabrics, Fildan, Tian Hai Lace, Sian Revill & Alice Snell, Sew Systems, Panache Lingerie, Gainway International, N.Brown, Nevs, and MMG Models.
Tutors and Technical team: Rachel Toner, Julie Swinfield, Laurie Truscott, Catherine Livingstone, Abbie Swinfield, Emma Rose, Buddy Penfold, Tracey Morris, Millie Fullalove, Jo Earl, Kelly McRobie, Jadzia Garrett, Chris Wright, Kinga Bochenska-Colinet, Alan Beattie, Carolyn Hardaker, Sam Dalby, Rob Jones, Sophie Ison-Dawson, Alex Palmer, Graham Lee, Chris Ball, Michaela Hawes, Rob Leary, Ben Marlow, Neil Donoghue, Anna Wang, Nigel Essex, Will Baker, Stuart Lambert and his wonderful team.
Jess Mara Nevs Models, London - www.nevsmodels.co.uk
UNDERLINES
FINAL WORDS
“It is always a delight to see the final year graduates’ work with the level of professionalism, talent and creativity that they display and the ‘Class of 2024’ is no exception! The Contour Fashion Course at De Montfort University continues to deliver to its students a first-class and unequalled framework to succeed in their future careers. Having seen some of their project work this year we can see that the lingerie design and expertise is in safe hands for the future.”
