GFW: Emma Walsh
The designer talks to WWB about the inspiration behind her Graduate Fashion Week collection.

Name: Emma Walsh.

BA Hons Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles, Nottingham Trent University.

Natalie Dawson: What was the inspiration behind the collection?

Emma Walsh: The collection takes inspiration from the enigma code of World War II; more specifically, Alan Turing’s efforts of cracking it. Jacquard knitting and knitted lace holes translate messages in Morse code and telegraph code, both of which were used to convey the enigma code during the war.

The project’s focus on World War II also inspired me to explore the clothing restrictions and rationing of this period. The rationing system allowed for 66 coupons to be used per person, per year, with a dress worth say 11 coupons. The collection adheres to these guidelines; all the garments ‘add up’ to 66 coupons.

ND: What do you specialise in?

EW: My specialties lie within both knitwear and accessory design. Studying knitwear for my degree, I have gained numerous knitting skills, allowing me to be creative within my final collection designs.

While on my degree’s placement year, my skills were used for both hard (bags and shoes) and soft accessory (hats, scarves and gloves) design for the high street.

ND: How did you get into design and what made you choose this course?

Specialising in fashion and textiles while on my foundation course at De Montfort, it was the textiles approach to fashion that most excited me. Choosing to begin my studying at Nottingham Trent University on the Textiles Design degree course, I gained skills in print, embroidery and weave, but my main interest was within knitted textiles.

ND: What do you hope to achieve in the future?

EW: Working within a company that pushes my creative skills within both textiles and fashion is the main focus of my aspirations.