‘The Battle of Flowers’

This project pays homage to my childhood home in Jersey Channel Islands and the annual celebration of ‘The Battle of Flowers.’ The event itself is an exciting parade of floats decorated with real flowers, crafted by volunteers of each parish that make up the Island. These floats are accompanied by dancers, music and crowds of islanders and tourists. By taking inspiration from designers such as Thom Browne and Knwls, as well as the rich primary visual research collected from the parade over the decades, my project has reflected the celebration of colour, texture and sense of community. The final collection of woven samples mirror the parade’s bold stripes, feathers and sequins, therefore exploring the idea that a collection can be both consistent as well as ‘over the top.’

A plethora of materials have been used throughout the design process such as lambswool, cotton, feathered yarn as well as fancy tasseled yarns and inlaying hand tied knots. This blend of mediums has helped to formulate a rounded collection of samples that hold different weights and focus points, aiming to evoke a feeling of celebration, passion and pride for the viewer.