Samantha Gillett-Jones

Samantha Gillett-Jones is an emerging designer with a materials first approach to her designs, placing the textile opportunities of each material at the centre of their creative process. Throughout their third year, they focused extensively on working with leather, taking part in a variety of beneficial experiences such as a dedicated bag making week and a wet molding and gilding session. These opportunities deepened their understanding of leather craftsmanship and its versatile applications in both fashion and elsewhere. Bringing her identity as a transgender woman into her work, 'His end was peace' looks into the stigma that surrounds gender reassignment surgery in what is often seen as brutal and unnecessary. She contrasts the harsh metal staples and hardware with a floral pattern, bringing in research into Victorian times, as she explores the concept of mourning her former self pre transition. Her most recent collection title 'His end was peace' explores a variety of methods including metalworking, gilding, and the innovative use of repurposed materials, such as creating custom embossing plates from leftover acrylic sourced from other students’ work. Always dedicated and eager to enter into the industry, Samantha is eager to continue exploring new textile applications and experimental techniques to inform and evolve their future designs.