It’s nearly Fashion Revolution Week 2024 which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year! Coincidently, Christie Wanless, has recently completed 10 years of her sewing journey which has given her the opportunity to look back and think about the key millstones of her growth over that time. Here she is in her own words.
”When I left school, I didn’t have a solid idea of what I wanted to do when I “grew up”. I completed an art and design course at college but I knew that although I was good at art it didn’t give me the fulfillment I needed. I discovered the Fashion and Textiles course at Dundee College in 2013 and thought it sounded so fun and right up my street! It was there that I made my first ever garments and as cliche as it sounds that’s when I knew that I had found my calling.
Christie was offered an unconditional offer to study Fashion Technology at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels, which started the year she ended college in 2015.
”During my university course we were offered the opportunity to take part in an industry placement year (2017) and the careers worker found me an internship in Dundee with Isolated Heroes and Samantha Paton for a year. When I completed my internship, I reluctantly went back to Galashiels to complete my university course.
This was not the end of Christie’s journey with Isolated Heroes though as once she had graduated, she went straight back and started her first fashion job as Production Manager in 2019.
”Working at Isolated Heroes gave me confidence in my abilities and gave me my purpose. I developed new products, I worked with celebrity clients, I took part in big campaigns and events, and I met inspiring people I probably would have never met otherwise. In 2022 I won the Fashion Assistant of the year award at the Scotland Re:Design runway show at the V&A Dundee, probably my proudest moment to date.
Looking to pastures new, Christie left her role at Isolated Heroes in March 2023, which heralded the end of an amazing era, and the beginning of her current journey with Front Lounge. Christie had worked with Front Lounge through Isolated Heroes for a few years prior so was well known to the organisation.
”I officially started my new role at Front Lounge in September 2023 and it has been a special part of my story. The most significant Front Lounge project to date is EVOLUTION. Originally a concept of working with local designers to design garments out of fashion waste, it has developed into something so much bigger. We realised that an issue a lot of designers face is knowing what to do with their waste fabrics and we saw this as an opportunity to offer a solution to the problem. I worked closely with two designers, Kirsteen Stewart (based in Orkney) and Dundee based knitwear brand Jo-AMI to co-design new products using their scrap fabrics and deadstock garments.
MADE BY CHRISTIE WANLESS Kirsteen Stewart Geometric Crescent Bag
MADE BY CHRISTIE WANLESS Jo-AMI T-Shirt
EVOLUTION was extended to a group of Kindred Clothing graduates who were looking for a next step after completing the garment construction course. Their minds bursting with creative invention they designed their own garments independently and made toiles to test out the designs. Christie then re-made their designs using fabric that was kindly donated to Front Lounge by V&A Dundee from their critically acclaimed Tartan Exhibition.
MADE BY CHRISTIE WANLESS Princess Dress designed by Brooke McMillan (12); Jump Suit designed by Ellie Fraser (15); One Shoulder Floral Dress + Bag designed by Aimee Simpson (14); and Mini Dress with Bow + Bag designed by Molly Caithness (16)
The most recent Kindred Clothing cohort of 6 learners also got involved in the project. Working with Megan McKay of Little Peril Studio they created their garments for the course out of deadstock fabrics, each developing a cohesive collection.
MADE BY CALLY THOMSON Dungarees, Lounge Top + Heart Motif
MADE BY KERRY-LEE LAVERY T-Shirt Dress + Bag + Lounge Top
MADE BY KERRY LIVIE T-Shirt Dress + Dungarees Dress + Pink Bag Accessory
MADE BY SAMANTHA HUTCHISON T-Shirt Dress + Lounge Top + Shorts
MADE BY SOPHIA BRYMER Dungarees + T-Shirt Dress + Scrunchie
MADE BY TRACY BAYLISS T-Shirt Dress + with Rosette + Bag
Front Lounge recently held a runway/presentation event where all the garments from across the project, made by both Christie Wanless and the Kindred Clothing participants, were modeled and photographed. The event was something new for everyone at Front Lounge and it was a very special moment for all involved to be able to see all of the hard work that had been put into the project in this way.
”For me EVOLUTION is not just a project anymore, it’s a new pathway into expanding our relationships with designers and also a way to hopefully inspire them and the next generation of young designers to use their creativity when making garments and accessories. Fashion doesn’t always have to come from buying new fabrics, there are so many options out there and I’m hopeful that we can guide people in the right direction. This part of my journey has only just begun and I'm excited for what is still to come!
Christie Wanless is a gifted fashion technologist and skilled garment producer. She is a committed ambassador of slow fashion, and all that means, and over the time she has been with Front Lounge she has had a significant impact on how the organisation thinks and operates. It has been a real joy watching her evolution, and in many ways Christie’s journey is really only just beginning. What better way of celebrating her amazing 10 year journey than by marking 10 years of Fashion Revolution with 10 days of action, from Monday 15 to Wednesday 24 April 2024. Visit Fashion Revolution for more information, and join the fashion revolution!
#evolution #madeinscotland #wearefashionrevolution #FashionRevolutionWeek #imadeyourclothes #imademyclothes
