All images and sketches Jessica Campbell's designs
A strong contender for the Best Menswear Award, Jessica Campell from the Manchester School of Art presented an almost entirely denim menswear collection at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week. Working denim into nearly every garment, the casual mis-matched compilation included oversized jeans, bleached denim jackets and a multi-tone, grungy knitted jumper. Detailing such as layered pockets and bleached braces polished the collection off.
What was the inspiration behind your final graduate collection?
My collection has been inspired by Ireland and my experiences of growing up on a farm there. Irish Folk-lore and ghost stories have also influenced my work. The ghostly element is realised through off-set pockets and traces of details such as braces on a shirt that are no longer there. The collection contains oversized shapes and silhouettes which have been roughly altered to reflect the tradition of hand-me-downs.
What made you choose to study at Manchester School of Art?
I had always wanted to move away from home for university, as I wanted to experience life outside of Northern Ireland. I had thought about applying to London universities but I soon realised that to go from the countryside of Fermanagh to the city of London would be a major shock to the system. When I was at school I completed some work experience with Belfast based designer MaryRose McGrath, who has been an amazing friend and mentor to me ever since. She told me about her incredible university experience in Manchester and suggested I consider it as a possible university option. Taking her advice, I decided to check Manchester out. I immediately fell in love with the city and found the BA(Hons) Fashion course exciting due to its strong textile element and the industry based opportunities it offered. Choosing to move to Manchester has been one of the best decisions of my life.
How did they prepare you for a career in fashion?
Manchester School of Art have recently set up Unit X, an inter-art school programme that encourages individuals from different art courses to collaborate. From this Unit X experience I learnt the values of teamwork and have developed skills such as writing and filmmaking, which I hope will give me that unique selling point when applying for jobs. Whilst at university I was encouraged to take advice from tutors but ultimately make decisions for myself, which has been difficult but rewarding in the long run. I also obtained a good work ethic that could be applied to any industry, not just fashion.
Describe the type of man you design for.
The type of man I design for is between the ages of 25-35 years old. He enjoys classic menswear such as refined shirting but also has a sense of humour with how he dresses. He would happily wear double or triple denim and make it look good! My perfect customer would be Winston Marshall from Mumford and Sons as he has a sense of style but doesn’t take himself too seriously.
If you weren’t a fashion designer, what would you be instead?
I would love to be a filmmaker or a writer. I currently write for a magazine and a newspaper in my spare time and have really enjoyed the experience of seeing my work published. I have also made a couple of films in the past- some fashion films, some of the horror/thriller genre, which is always a lot of fun.
Which designers do you look up to?
This list could go on forever! I really admire Paul Smith and his down-to-earth view on the Fashion Industry. He has created beautiful clothes for decades yet has never got an ego. I also love Agi & Sam and their fun take on traditional menswear. Their prints are exciting and contemporary yet still very wearable. Tom Ford’s work is perfect, a true genius in the Fashion Industry and has also proved himself as a successful Director with the cinematic masterpiece ‘A Single Man.’ Finally I cannot forget Thom Browne. He has that clever balance of outrageous and wearable perfected within his work – something I have tried to achieve with my own collection.
What comes next for you and your career?
I have recently been offered the position of Costume Design Assistant for a television programme about students based in Belfast. I can’t wait to get started!
Did you complete any internships before graduating?
I completed an internship at Burton Menswear and with a company that makes military and Police uniforms called Cooneen Defence. Both internships gave me very different yet rewarding experiences.
How would you describe your design aesthetic?
I would describe my design aesthetic as sharp menswear with a softened edge, reminiscent of a past era of DIY and tradition.
Has anything exciting or unexpected come out of showing at Graduate Fashion Week?
The whole Graduate Fashion Week experience has been surreal. Getting selected for the Gala Show was a complete shock for me. Since then I have seen my collection pop up unexpectedly on various social media sites. The most unexpected of all was when I seen my work featured on the MTV website under the heading ‘Graduate Fashion Week Top Picks.’ Since then I’ve had a few exciting opportunities come my way.
Lorna Slessor
