Zoe Sterling

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Surface Textiles

Zoe is a London based textile designer, specialising in embroidered textiles for both Menswear and Womenswear. She flourishes in a creative environment and is constantly engaging in opportunities to expand and enhance an innate artistic flair. A strong attraction to decoration and an acute awareness of colour and aesthetics, stem from Zoe's intrinsic desire to enhance and develop a fun, uplifting and energetic embroidery style, drawing on aspects of global cultures both old and new. In particular, Zoe is extremely passionate about colour, constantly seeking inspiration to manipulate and embellish a wide range of vibrant and exuberant textile materials. Zoe's FMP collection, is inspired by 60s nostalgia and children's artwork, targeting the older customer. It aims to regenerate fabric surfaces that are beautiful and alluring, through her love of colour and abstract illustration style. As an individual, Zoe loves working with other designers, in order that her textiles can meet a wider audience: womenswear student Man Yim and Zoe, have recently collaborated for their FMP photoshoot. In addition, within her graduate collection Zoe has collaborated with Menswear student Brogan Toyn for ‘Jamaican me Crazy’. The collection, an eccentric yet sensational , SS2013 sportswear range, has been selected for the LCF Press Show. The textiles for ‘Jamaican me Crazy’ further reflect Zoe’s ability to cater for a wide customer base and showcase her unconventional style towards textile design. Reversing the constraints on gender, ‘Jamaican me Crazy’ is a rebellion against frequently used homophobic dancehall lyrics, inspired by the controversial musical style and promiscuity of Jamaica's Dancehall Queens. The textiles are tactile and enticing, with soft rainbow furs creeping along the edges of garments. In turn, tight crotches are emphasized by brilliantly printed and metallic lurex fabrics, with surges of complex mark making forming these prints. Bedazzling, sequined crop tops emphasize an outlandish street style, contradicting urban aesthetics. In addition, references to dancehall contemporaries in the hip hop genre, are portrayed through basketball shorts engulfed in colour and the sparkle of iridescent fabrics. Zoe’s sensitivity towards colour is portrayed here, through applying heat pressed patterns and disperse dyes to fabrics. This enables the juxtapositions of colour to be an important focus within the collection. Red or black are often familiarised with promiscuity, however, avoiding seedy connotations ‘Jamaican me Crazy’ adopts modest, pastel hues. These effectively distract from potentially erotic undertones, and encourage the energy of the dancehall for both onlooker and wearer. Man Yim, womenswear collaboration, contact:http://showtime.arts.ac.uk/manhinyim Brogan Toyn,menswear collaboration, contact:http://showtime.arts.ac.uk/BroganToyn Image 3: Photography: Anthony John Sayer, Creative Director: Rob Phillips, Beauty: Pace Chen, Model: Flash, Textiles Print: Zoe Sterling, Menswear design: Brogan Toyn Image 5.12.13,14,15: Photography:GMGP photography, Tim Hill and James Aubrey Finnigan. Image 6,7,8,9,10,24,26,27,34,35,36,37,39,40: Joshua Sallon photography. AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: PRESS: MTV http://www.districtmtv.co.uk/article/topic/style/1npr61/ones-to-watch-brogan-toyn/ys7x6a PIGEONS AND PEACOCKS http://www.pigeonsandpeacocks.com/editorial/the-glorious-graduates/ 2/7/12 VOGUE http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/london-college-of-fashion-ba 2/7/12 MY DAILY http://www.mydaily.co.uk/2013/07/02/london-college-of-fashion-ba-show-2013_n_3532173.html 2/7/12 http://noctismag.com/ 2/7/12 http://www.thestylelane.com/#/lcf13-runway-show/4577776766 2/7/12 http://adorngirl.tumblr.com/post/54533706290/backstage-lcf-2013-graduate-show# 2/7/12 http://blogs.arts.ac.uk/fashion/2013/07/02/lcf-shows-off-design-talent-in-shoreditch/webba2013_catwalk_063/ http://www.poshmann.com/zoe-sterling Rucksack featured in: https://www.facebook.com/#!/brooomroom?fref=ts Sequin textile work featured in:http://wgsn.tumblr.com/post/50644377782/cosmic-we-love-lcflondon-student-brogan-toyns :May 2013 Awarded Commendation for the Bradford Textile Society Fashion & Textile Course award:April 2013 . Sequin textile work featured in: http://i-donline.com/2013/04/diversity-now-the-finalist-cut/ : March 2013 Awarded The Fashion and Textiles student of the year award two years running, at The King David High School: June 2005 and June 2006 SPECIALIST SKILLS: Hand embroidery: advanced level Embroidery Machines: Domestic, Irish; Cornelli, Tenaka Press and CAD embroidery. Laser cutter Knit: Handknitting: intermediate level Industrial knitting machine: intermediate level. Print: Screen Printing Heat Press Digital printing Sublimation printing Garment design: Pattern cutting: beginners’ level Fabric sourcing Fashion Illustration Computer Skills Competent user of the following: Microsoft Word; Photoshop; Illustrator; Wilcom software for CAD embroidery; Colour Matters software and ApS Ethos software. PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: JULIEN MACDONALD February-March 2014 Hand embroidery and collection development for LFW AW2014. RALPH & RUSSO December 2013 Preparation and embroidery for Paris fashion week ZEYNEP KARTAL November 2013 -February 2014 Collection development, PR and social media for LFW AW 2014 CHALAYAN July 2012-Aug 2012 Production assistant SWAROVSKI creative fashion event February 2012 • Helping to promote Simon Glazin’s fashion blog. • Customising and embroidering clothing for celebrity guests. SOPHIA COUTURE Dec 2011- Jan 2012 Ethical and sustainable bridal wear, hats and accessories. AVON June - Sep 2010 Representative of body care products COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WORK, June - Sep 2008 Within Cheshire Email zoesterling1@gmail.com