Up next in our Class of 2015 blog series we talk to BA Womenswear student Bora Nam. Bora discusses her catwalk collection and the muse that inspires her. For her final project Bora has collaborated with students from Fashion Textiles: Print, Fashion Textiles: Embroidery and Cordwainers Fashion, Bags and Accessories.
LCF News: Where are you from?
Bora Nam: I’m from where Gang-nam style was born…South Korea.
LCF News: Give us one interesting fact about yourself…
BN: I was training to be a theatre actress when my mum decided it was about time I gave designing a go, considering 90% of my books were covered with doodles of girls, clothes, and shoes. One year into studying at my art school, I earned a list of awards two pages long from national competitions back home in Korea. Everyone thought I was cheating. But I was just enjoying what I was doing.
LCF News: Talk us through your final collection…
BN: I begin my research by re-visiting the past, mostly my teenage-hood. I saw a lot of friends who were neglected, perhaps by their parents or teachers due to many reasons, money or family issues. My collection is about their culture. In the their society, things that we throw away become something useful. They can make a guitar out of a broken skateboard, distorted nails, and few fishing lines. Sleeves on my collections are developed from top patterns and my collars are developed from trousers.
LCF News: What techniques or theories did you use to create your final piece of work?
BN: It was a lot of garment engineering. I deconstructed a few garments like many designers do these days and tried to imagine what a person would do to cover up if all he/she had damaged things. For this collection It was all about to hybrid things to come up with new details and designs.
LCF News: Have you been in the media?
BN: I participated as one of the 15 finalists for an Annual FIT vs Parsons fashion show called Fusion Fashion Show whilst at FIT in 2011. I was in Project Runway Korea right after that.
LCF News: Have you undertaken any work experience or done a placement whilst at LCF? Where and how did you secure this work experience or placement?
BN: I worked at Browns fashion as an editorial intern. And also Ostwald helgason and Eudon choi as a studio intern.
LCF News: What did you learn on your work placement?
BN: It’s such a good opportunity to see the whole process, from research to production, in house as well as outsourced. It was also really good to know which of my skills needed refining. Also I have learnt to stand up for myself and ask for more responsibilities when I want to really practise.
LCF News: Describe your work in five words…
BN: Deconstructive, detailed, empowered, emotional, elegant.
LCF News: Do you have a muse? If so, who and why?
BN: There is this woman that I briefly met when I was 19 in NY. She was all in black and I’ve always been a person that is full of emotions. I was naïve and innocent. Walking up the infamous 5th ave of New York City with a friend laughing like little girls, I saw this woman, tall, tight biker jeans, chunky high-heeled buckle boots, over-sized coat tightly fastened at the waist, black sunglasses and leather gloves. She had both of her hands on her waist and looking right at me.
At first, I was scared and confused but I was sure she was looking at me. As I was getting closer and closer to her, I think she smiled at me. And two of the beautiful guys who were hanging around her looked at me too I think. I wanted to run away because it was so intense. I was slowing down because I didn’t know what to do but she walked over to me.
She told me “Don’t be afraid. Don’t show them your fear. They will see you for who you tell them you are.” I think she saw that I was very intimidated by the Upper East Side crowd. She was telling me to become strong. She looked confident, strong and had the whole world at her feet. Ever since then, she has a very strong influence on me. I am still myself, emotional, romantic and fragile inside, but I want to become her. The woman I look up to is the woman I want to design for and the woman I want to become. My work is a blend of me and this woman.
LCF News: What inspires you?
BN: Emotions and youth. When I was a teenager, I was an observer. I constantly think and try to understand people. Emotions are all beautiful.
LCF News: What advice would you give to someone wanting to study your course?
BN: Analyse what you like and find out why. You will get to know yourself as a designer.
- Tune into the live stream of the LCF BA15 Catwalk on 8th of June, 7pm GMT
- Meet more of the Class of 2015
- BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear
- BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Print
- BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery
- BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories
- Join in on #LCFBA15
- All about LCF BA15 on our channel