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Kickstart your creative journey with a taster session

Liva Majore wearing the tulle coat she designed
  • Written byCarys Thomas
  • Published date 15 August 2022
Liva Majore wearing the tulle coat she designed
Liva Majore wearing the tulle coat that she designed

After attending a Fashion Portfolio Preparation taster session, student Liva Majore was inspired to book onto our Portfolio Preparation for Art College 16 to 18 Year Olds Short Course at Central Saint Martins.

Designed to help students prepare for the application process, the Portfolio Preparation for Art College Short Course offers students the chance to work on a variety of projects and receive valuable advice on portfolio content and presentation. To find out more, we caught up with Liva to hear about her time on the course and see some of her inspiring work.

Are you working on a fashion portfolio at the moment? Take a look at our guide on how to create a fashion portfolio for university for some top tips on how to get started.

The course has made me more confident in my work and introduced me to new methods and approaches. But most importantly, it has inspired me to keep chasing my dream.

— Liva Majore, Short Course Student

Liva is currently a student at high school in Lativa, so the Portfolio Preparation Short Course offered her the opportunity to pursue her passion alongside her studies. “The craziest thing is that I don't study anything to do with my passion – fashion design – because my school does not offer any art or design subjects,” she explains.

Student artwork by Liva Majore
Student artwork by Liva Majore

Discovering the art of sewing

After receiving a sewing machine for her birthday one year, Liva began making her own clothes and discovered a love for sewing. “I asked my parents for a sewing machine for my sixteenth birthday,” she says, “and they thought I would never use it, but I quickly fell in love with making clothes.”

Liva found that making her own clothing helped her feel more confident and expressive as a person. “I always had my style, whether it was eye-catching in a good or bad way,” she says, “but designing and making my own clothes opened up a completely new means of self-expression.”

“Over time, designing became a very important source of happiness and confidence,” says Liva. “Making my own clothes allows me to realise the vision of my perfect outfit, and I feel most confident when I'm wearing an outfit I love.”

Embracing the creative process

Liva finds that much of her design inspiration comes from her interest in art and music. “I get inspiration from all around,” she says, “particularly through social media and by looking at artwork, but fantasies and music inspire me the most.”

“Sometimes random ideas just pop into my head and I’ll sketch them to develop later,” says Liva. “Or I’ll listen to a song and come up with a whole visual for it where I’ll also have the outfits in mind. I recently saw some fabrics that inspired me to create a piece. Inspiration comes from all around.”

One of Liva’s most recent pieces is a tulle coat (pictured) that she made after being inspired by designs she saw on TikTok. “My tulle coat was inspired by a TikTok and the song ‘Babushka Boi’,” she explains. “I visualised a short video idea with the song, featuring the coat and a babushka scarf. After a lot of work, I finished the coat and wore it to a festival to see A$AP Rocky. I’m really happy with it, but I haven’t made the video yet.”

During the Portfolio Preparation for Art School Short Course, Liva enjoyed experimenting with new approaches and embracing the creative process. “The course taught me that I don’t have to aim for my artwork to be perfect, because I'm still learning and it’s more important to have fun with it,” she says.

Looking to the future

After completing the taster session and Portfolio Preparation for Art School Short Course, Liva is excited to look ahead and plans to apply for further study at Central Saint Martins.

The opportunity to experience life on campus was invaluable to Liva, who found the creative environment very stimulating. “Just walking around Central Saint Martins for the first time made me tear up,” she says. “Meeting and making friends that have the same interests as me and being in that creative environment was spectacular.”

Liva credits course tutor, Renata Hegyi, for inspiring her to experiment with new approaches and techniques. “The tutor was so accommodating and helpful,” she says, “she made me feel really comfortable to participate in the course and answered so many of my questions about the application process, portfolios, and BA courses at Central Saint Martins.”

“I would recommend both courses,” says Liva. “The taster session is so short and affordable – you really have nothing to lose! I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the arts. If you’re dedicated and use all the tools and opportunities given in that time, you can really get a lot out of it.”

Follow Liva on Instagram to find out more about her work.

  • Student artwork by Liva Majore
    Student artwork by Liva Majore
  • Student artwork by Liva Majore
    Student artwork by Liva Majore
  • Student artwork by Liva Majore
    Student artwork by Liva Majore
  • Student artwork by Liva Majore
    Student artwork by Liva Majore
  • Student artwork by Liva Majore
    Student artwork by Liva Majore

Fancy trying something new?

At UAL Short Courses, we offer a range of affordable taster sessions designed to offer an insight into taking a short course at UAL. Our tasters feature expert knowledge from industry professionals and offer students the opportunity to meet like-minded people from across the globe.

Take a look at full range of upcoming short courses to find out what's coming up.