Designer Statement: Cassie TurnerI come from an ethnically diverse family with Caribbean, Japanese and African family members. Possibly due to this, or maybe growing up in an Asian community in Leicester has lead me to be passionate about cultural prints and fabrics. I have always had a natural affinity with exotic fabrics such as African, Chinese, Japanese and especially Indian. Living now, in such a multi-racial city as Birmingham I believe it has been a perfect opportunity for me to develop my interest and passion in cultural textiles.
I love the idea of layering my ideas and influences, blending them with the exotic allure of eastern colour to create luxurious, eye-catching fabrics.
Along with my love and facination of fabrics from around the world I have a
passion for colour. The majority of my work is drenched with a bold, vivid palette.
Coming from a Fine Art background I am intending to work in a predominately craft based style. All my work previous to this course has been made by hand, using a wide variety of textiles. I have always loved working with textiles as its surface offers such a wide variety of possibilities such as printing, embroidery, appliqué, beading, and special surface finishes such as latex coating, laser etching and cutting or dyeing. I have created installations and paintings using fabric, but now want to focus on producing garments and interior items giving my work a new functional purpose.
For the Denim ID project I was inspir
ed by my love of traditional Asian art and fashion. I wanted to combine their use of intricate patterns and vivid colours with a material that is as utilitarian as denim. In doing so, stamping denim with my own style.
The theme for the photo shoot follows the same ideas as my actual designs, combining and contrasting the exotic with the mundane.
Denim is worn by everyone regardless of status or age. Whilst ubiquitous in its hard wearing nature and practicality it has been the ‘uniform’ of the younger generation for decades.
Written and designed by Cassie Turnerturnercassie@hotmail.co.uk
Sweet Jeans or a Double Denim Nightmare?Written by Kate Finch
Reliable, consistent, steadfast and unfailing; upon rediscovering my favourite pair of jeans was like unearthing lost treasure at the back of my wardrobe. Shaking the esteemed fabric out and half expecting gold dust to glisten from the folds and creases I was mortified to discover a red wine stain on the left trouser leg. Needless to say I was slightly grief-stricken.
Denim, it appears, will never go out of style and despite occasionally being considered slightly faux-pas and boring amongst the fashion elite, denim constantly regenerates as a stable part of any persons fashion DNA. Traditionally associated with the American cowboy movies of yesteryear, denim became the epitome of teenage rebellion during the fifties and still symbolises youth and playfulness even today. Versatile, easily accessorised and in recent years resurging as the jegging, the daisy duke hotpant and the ingenious denim dress, this magical blue cotton twill textile is a constant yet contemporary garment at the same time.
The contemporary alternative of late is the revival of the eighties trend double denim. Some things truly are better off left in the eighties- the spandex, the ‘Whitney Houston’ perm and the fluro tracksuits *shudder*. Double denim however is the undecided trend of the moment; you do truly either love it or hate it. Some are embracing it, others are resigning it to the back of their other dodgy eighties indiscretions, hiding it amongst the dust covered Bananarama records and leg warmers. I am undecided; despite Vogue giving the style a big thumbs up and my celebrity girl crush Alexa Chung pulling the look off with ease. Upon scouring the pages of fashion magazines and keeping an eye out on the credible celebrity’s wardrobe there are a variety of rules that need to be followed in order to make the look ‘work’.
1. Contrast in colour is vital. Wear a darker hued shirt and lighter denim bottoms, or vice versa. Do not make the same mistake B*Witched made in the nineties.
2. No cowboy boots; every effort to assimilate and project the look from the Paris catwalk will be futile and John Wayne references will be the repartee of the day.
3. Similarly avoid wearing a belt, no matter how feminine your appearance you will resemble a builder and the belt, no matter how gorgeous it is, will be mistaken for a tool belt.
4. Break up the blue with a different colour or different texture of material, a cute camisole or a fabulous handbag will add a touch of femininity and girlie chic.
5. Chunky bangles and tan accessorise appear to work well with the look and complement the current spring/summer tribal trend.
Despite these rules I am still not entirely convinced although one day maybe brave enough to give it a go, one thing is for certain denim will always remain a firm favourite no matter how it is worn; it tells a story and illustrates the rebellious child within us but also the sophisticated adult. Denim endures and persists within the fashion world, and like a fine red wine (especially the type that you foolishly spill over your favourite pair of jeans) it simply gets better with age.
Written by Kate Finch
katie_finch@msn.com
out on to the 
There are capsule collections for girls and boys with coloured denims, tees with attitude and accessories to complete the casual,street style look.The bottle tops bag is something I will be purchasing now pay days here.
