Amber Bailey

Hi, I'm Amber, a womenswear, print design graduate.

My family's heritage has always been important to me. For generations, my family have been involved in the agricultural industry; it's our inherited sense of family identity. Freedom From The Land not only honours the beautiful connection I have to my heritage but is inspired by the Land girls and the role they played in growing female independence, which was dominated by domesticated lifestyles during the 1930s/40s. Within my collection, there is a hidden message about sustainability. With the rise in demand for investment clothing that can increase longevity, I understood the importance of implementing sustainability into my garments. With inspiration from the Make Do and Mend rationing period during WW2, I developed decorative patches across my collection by reworking the scraps of materials into the garments. Second-hand trimmings from my grandmother are used to reinforce my family's heritage.

I wanted to create a heritage feel through my print development, whilst preserving a contemporary approach. I took 1940 interior design elements from my research and experimented with scaling and placements of my prints. My collection uses utility-inspired silhouettes, blended with smocking and feminine frills, to tie my story together.

"Make them admire your independence and your modesty, your frankness, and enthusiasm; show them that a girl who is working for her country on the land is the best sort of girl"