Rachel Kendall Personal Statement:
Having specialised in Menswear at the University of Leeds and completed a range of menswear design internships, I am excited for what the future has in store and I’m ready to progress in a post graduate career!
My portfolio is based upon 3 concepts that have been split up into 5 menswear collections. The first concept is based upon the Japanese fishing culture, which takes two directions that reference the modern and historical side of fishing in the country. The first collection draws from the ancient art of cormorant fishing in Japan, where cormorant birds are used to hunt fish in rivers, which inspires a S/S collection for Dries Van Noten. Osma Harvilahti’s romantic interpretation of the Japanese fishing in his photography series ‘Fish’, inspires a marine inspired S/S athleisure collection for an Adidas Terrex and Kith collaboration with a modern twist.
After a family trip to Jamaica, I was influenced by the vibrant and historic culture of the country, which inspired the second concept for 2 collections in my portfolio. The first collection is a youthful and print based collection for Palace for S/S, which is influenced by Nine Mile, a tropical village in Jamaica. The second collection is a nod to the 1970’s era, looking at the influence of Jamaican culture in Britain through reggae sound systems, clubs and carnivals, in order to create a sophisticated yet playful A/W collection for PS Paul Smith.
Peter Mitchell’s photography book, ‘Memento Mori’ provided inspiration for my fifth collection, designed for Sacai A/W. Mitchell documented the rise and demolition of the Quarry Hill flats in Leeds in the 1970’s, once the largest social housing estate in Europe. Silhouettes take inspiration from the brutalist architecture, whilst prints nod to 1960’s-70’s wallpaper that was photographed in Quarry Hill.
My independent final collection is inspired by my great grandfather being a young miner in Wales in the 1900’s. This collection and imagined brand ’Canari’, underpins the mining culture during this era. ‘Canari’, meaning Canary in Welsh, is a nod to the Canary Bird which was a vital part of survival in the mines. The brand marries together heritage and sustainability, to give a modern twist on old school workwear and tailoring. The use of upcycled materials are integrated within the collection, for example, the use of old coffee sacks that have been coated in silicone to implement an element of rough sophistication.
Contact Details:
07961262966
https://rachelkendalldesign.wixsite.com/portfolio
