Rachel
Callender

23 year old Rachel Callender has been designing her final collection from her family home in Surrey, and it is from this domestic environment she’s sponged much of her inspiration. The collection is based from memories she’s not experienced, but those of her parents in the 70s and 80s. Photographs of flowers taken by her mother are transformed into prints, while through cut and silhouette she references stars like Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful, illustrating the decadent years of sex appeal and androgyny. Despite studying on the Fashion Design Menswear pathway, Callender’s final collection reflects the fluidity the era. ‘It’s menswear, but I’d love to think anyone can wear it.’ Garments produced with shirring elastic warp prints and silhouettes on the confines of the body, and portray how memories with time can become distorted. And much like memories, the collection will evolve. ‘This is something I’ve been wanting to do since industry year, but it’s an ongoing process. It’s going to be something that develops naturally.’

George Smith, BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism
@georgepistachio