Interview with Fashion Designer Vee Hayward

We are super excited to share with you our first artist interview of 2021 with Fashion Designer Vee Hayward Discussing life after University, inspirations and Graduate Fashion Week! Original Magazine: Hi Vee! Tell us a bit about yourself! Where are you based and what are you currently working on? Vee Hayward: Hey, I’m a fashion designer specialising in menswear and based in London. I graduated in 2019 and have since gained experience working in the costume and fashion industry. I’m currently working on a developing new collection as well as a small collaboration project. O.M: Firstly, could you tell us how you came about getting into fashion and where the inspiration first came about? What influenced you to take a path within fashion design? V.H: Well, I initially studied illustration at university and after a year I changed to study fashion. It was so long ago now but I remember being inspired by Nick Caves soundsuits and Walter Van Beirendonck’s collections. I wanted to be able to create work like this. I was interested in the idea of being able to blur the lines between fashion, costume and art. At the time fashion was completely unknown to me; I didn’t even know how to use a sewing machine. However, I was fortunate to be accepted onto the fashion course and I was really focused on developing new skills and learning new ways of working. Although it was quite an impulsive decision to change courses as I had no background in fashion design, it felt like the right path to take. O.M: Did you attend University? If so, what was your experience like, did it have a positive or negative influence on your work? Reflecting back do you feel it was the right decision now? If you did not attend University what was the alternative route/option for you? V.H: Yes, I studied Fashion at the University of Brighton. The course most definitely had a positive impact on me and my work. We were taught a lot of technical skills, from pattern cutting, sewing, cad, etc; combining these lessons with design and making projects helped me to gain a well rounded skill set. With the help, guidance, encouragement and some criticism from the tutors and technicians, over the years I was able to discover and establish my own unique style and ways of working. As a result, my approach now combines both traditional and unconventional techniques and I have continued to develop abstract pieces as shapes that work in tandem with the human form. O.M: We are huge fans of your work and were lucky enough to both witness and photograph your collection at Graduate Fashion Week. What was this process like for you? How was the overall experience throughout, from being selected to backstage and seeing your work down the runway? V.H: Thank you, it was a pleasure to have you both photograph my work at graduate fashion week. The overall experience leading up to graduate fashion week was a rollercoaster. We had all been working solidly on our final collections for roughly 8 months and needless to say it was very stressful at times. Despite this, I actually really enjoyed working on my final collection and seeing the process evolve over the months. Being selected for graduate fashion week was really humbling and provided me the fantastic opportunity of being able to showcase my work. Seeing my collection go down the runway at graduate fashion week was bitter sweet as I was proud of what I had achieved but also saddened as it marked the end of my time at university. O.M: Your designs are very unique especially your BA collection. What was the inspiration behind these designs? What eras have you researched for inspiration? Why made you decide with this collection, to design them so that the face is covered? Has this been something you have always explored? V.H: My BA collection focuses on an exploration of form, shape and silhouette. I started the process by working almost exclusively on the stand, experimenting with abstract drape and stand work to form unusual, sculptural and graphic silhouettes, specifically focusing around the head. Further into this study I referenced a variety of visual sources; ranging from the impactful silhouettes of Claude Montana to the works of artists such as Agnes Jones, Rene Magritte, Georgio De Chirico and sculptures by Max bill. In terms of garment and fashion research, I drew inspiration from workwear/ uniforms and womenswear from the 50’s to 90’s. I was heavily influenced by several designers, including Claude Montana, Anne Marie Beretta and Dior. Inspired by the use of exaggerated shoulders, impeccable tailoring, asymmetric cuts and sculpted and structured silhouettes. My specific reference to womenswear allowed me to approach menswear from a different perspective. The power of masks is something that has interested me since studying fashion but not something I had ever experimented with up until my final collection. My initial investigations and research lead me to look at how masks are used in a variety of cultures and different artistic disciplines. I was interested in how masks can obscure, hide, captivate and disturb- how abstracting or removing the presence of identity can push a more surrealist narrative of the human form and allows the mask wearer to perform identity. Within my BA collection I wanted to explore this concept and create full monochrome looks with the use of masks. O.M: It’s been a turmoil year for a lot of us, especially those within the creative industry. How have you been able to stay motivated and creative? How has the pandemic affected you, professional and personally? As we start the New year, have you got any exciting plans? Future projects, collaborations? V.H: Although at times it has been challenging to stay motivated, it has been important to me to try and stay creative by setting myself little projects. For example, throughout the second lockdown I made small collection with dyed textiles in collaboration with the very talented print and textile designer, Mimi Forrest. This collection helped us to keep creative and fill the void of boredom. Like many, I was made redundant towards the end of the year, which financially sucked. But before this I didn’t have much time to make anything and hadn’t done much pattern cutting, draping or sewing since finishing university, I was mainly doing 2D design and cad work. The silver lining of this was that I have been able to get stuck back into the areas I enjoy the most and focus on producing my own work. On reflection it has made me realise what I enjoy and where I see myself going forward. I’m not sure what the new year has in store for me, I’m currently working on the early stages of a new collection as well as working on another collaboration project with Mimi, involving natural dyes. Hopefully throughout the year I will be able to keep making work, collaborate with some great people and maybe sell a few pieces if I’m lucky. O.M: And finally, if there is one piece of advice that you would give to any future and currently fashion design students what would it be? Whether they are going freelance or at University? V.H: Don’t compare your work to others, instead focus on developing your own style and your own ways of working. If there are any skills you think you need but aren’t confident in, try to learn and practice them rather than shy away from them. Also, internships are a valuable experience, but don’t let people take advantage of you, remember your time and hard work should be appreciated and respected- and PAID! Thank you for chatting with us Vee Hayward. 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