Francesca Samm

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I can’t believe how quickly Graduate Fashion Week has come back around again. This years knitters were absolutely superb and a feel like I should hang my head in shame/try harder! There really are just so many students to talk about. I’m going to have a series of interviews with my favourite graduates from this year, starting off with Francesca Samm from Nottingham trent…

 

Francesca Samm, 22. Nottingham Trent University

Design Background:  Worked for six months in New York for a huge high street store called EXPRESS on the sweater team, assisted the designer in all jobs.  Also worked for six months at Cast Creations who are a knitwear swatch company in Nottingham, where I knitted and designed swatches to sell all over the world.  I was nominated for the Textiles award and Visionary Knitwear award at GFW.

Describe the concept behind your collection:
Looked at the future of human evolution…the idea of technology taking over the human form.  My fabric was inspired by satellite images, digital data and interference from computers.  I wanted the collection to be beautiful but have futuristic elements such as the reflective and glow in the dark yarn.

What machines/techniques did you use for your collection?
Dubied 10GG and 12GG – plaiting, striping, two feeder knitting to create intarsia on the Dubied with a transparent lurex yarn

 

What made you pursue knitwear? 
I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in fashion design but felt restricted by having to go out and buy fabric to make clothes…knitwear allows you to take full control over the garment; it allows you to design every aspect of the garment from fabric to silhouette.

Why did you choose Nottingham Trent? 
Nottingham Trent has such a vast amount of machinery for students to use from Dubied, Domestics, Linkers, Stoll, Shima, Circular power machines, over lockers…  All the staff are extremely experienced in the knitwear industry too.

Which piece took longest to make?
The transparent nude and grey dress with the funnel neck took a long time to knit as the technique of knitting with two feeders on a Dubied at the same time is difficult, the yarns were also very delicate and transparent making it time consuming.

Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time? 
I would like to have studied an MA in knitwear possibly at a London University…I would then like to pursue creating my own knitwear line.

 

Images by Chris Moore- catwalking.com

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Filed under Intarsia, Nottingham Trent, Stripes

Tags: Francesca Samm, knitwear design, knitwear graduate, Nottingham Trent