Danielle Howard
Available

Danielle Howard

Associate MerchandiserLondon, United Kingdom
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Olivia Hague
Sophie Harrison
Tana Pither
Danielle Howard
Available

Danielle Howard

Associate MerchandiserLondon, United Kingdom
About me
A Loughborough University Textiles: Innovation and Design graduate specialising in printed textiles. My design work stems from Scandinavian references, allowing the basis of my design work to be simplistic in its approach. This line of enquiry allows me to focus primarily on shape, form and colour. Alongside these interests, I am passionate about materials and have experimented with techniques including weave, jacquard and laser cutting. Their position within my projects infuse my printed designs with tactile qualities. I enjoy working with a mix of lustrous silks, natural wools and functional materials including neoprene and denim, both of which provoke sensual characteristics within my work.
Projects
  • Ethnic Fusion
    Ethnic Fusion‘Ethnic Fusion’: a high-end womenswear cruise fashion collection inspired by the amalgamation of various patterns to create a single entity. My collection aims to capture the decorative landmarks of Barcelona. Concentrating on stained glass windows and fragmented tiles of which are found at Sagrada Familia and Park Güell – designed by Antoni Gaudí. The basis of the collection will combine drawings of fragmented elements that make up full composition through image manipulation. This will be achieved through the technique of paper weaving whereby my first hand photographs, drawings and photoshop collages will be deconstructed. Upon reconstructing the imagery, the newly adopted structures will appear puzzle like. The colour arrangement selected for the collection was developed through researching Murano glass. The palette demonstrates a modern, fresh feel and is sophisticated in its approach. I intend on boosting the saturation of these colours so a vivid selection of tones is injected into the pieces I create. This contemporary colour palette will help to display a high-end quality that I believe can be transferred across my collection onto sheer fabrics such as silk georgette and chiffon and silky fabrics including haboti silk, fuji silk and dupion silk. As well as this translation, I intend on printing the digital deconstructed woven samples onto heavier fabrics that include neoprene, ecological woven materials and leathers. I have chosen these materials as they depict the feel of a cruise collection of which represents clothing originally meant for “more seasoned jet-setters” going on cruises or vacationing in the warm Mediterranean areas. Cruise collections offer light spring or summer clothing when the weather at the points of sale actually calls for winter apparel.
  • Illusory Silhouettes
    Illusory SilhouettesThrough the completion of a placement in Copenhagen, I was inspired by the simplicity of Scandinavian design and its focus on innovation and elegance. The authentic and minimalist approach surrounding shape, form and colour enabled me to produce the foundation of my project. Throughout my stay in Copenhagen, I acquired a vast amount of photographic evidence from regularly visiting contemporary museums and architectural neighbourhoods. Superkilen is a manmade public park that showcases the amalgamation of art and landscape. The large-scale murals spread across 30,000 square metres stage the essence of Scandinavian design and its simplicity. Furthermore, by the sculpture park at Louisiana, Denmark it allowed me the chance to witness the remarkable mobile created by Alexander Calder. The subtle balance of form, colour and scale of the structure translated as a beautiful silhouette at sunset across the water. Additional imagery gained from my travels to Sydney and Antwerp, heavily led by architectural references assisted to enhance my paintings and collages. Reflective surfaces found across many modern architectural facades in London provided my research with fragmented references. I was interested in the abstraction of imagery through a new perspective, whether it was the distorted view of a building through the manipulation of the reflection or the warped view of the structure upon the waters surface. The modernist lines and geometric forms of Bauhaus style are key influences in this collection. I am particularly interested in the linear structures displayed within the works of Josef and Anni Albers. Similarly to Alexander Calder, their works depict modernist geometric forms through their innovative choice of colour and arrangement. ‘Illusory Silhouettes’: a luxurious Spring/Summer Womenswear fashion collection focusing on the abstraction and fragmentation of shape through manipulation. Techniques including weave, jacquard and laser cutting will infuse my printed collection with tactile qualities. The mix of lustrous silks and functional materials including neoprene and denim will provoke sensual characteristics. Martina Spetlova’s use of ecological luxury materials of which combine textured and coloured leather has allowed her to experiment in a similar way. These exploratory processes will accompany my screen-printed and digital samples produced on silk twill, satin and wool delaine. I will continually experiment, test and analyse different colour combinations using acid solutions. They will enable me to achieve a vivid spectrum of colours upon the fabric’s surface. I intend on over printing designs with devoré paste to achieve tonal variations. These sophisticated fabrics complement the luxury fashion context that I am designing for and display high levels of saturation through printing processes.
Work history
    NEW DESIGNERS logo
    NEW DESIGNERS logo
    New Designers ExhibitorNEW DESIGNERS
    London, United KingdomFreelance
    Loughborough University Printed Textiles Design Graduate exhibiting at New Designers from June 27th - July 1st
    Fashion Buyer
     - London, United KingdomInternship
    Interning amongst a thriving hub of talented individuals across an array of different departments including buying, merchandising, design, visual displays and marketing was a truly enjoyable experience. I worked as part of the buying team within the womenswear and menswear departments. My role consisted of working alongside buying admin assistants and assistant buyers. Main achievements: - Accountable for monitoring the arrival of new sample stock and forwarding product for processing - Assisting at monthly sample sales events
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Skills
  • Project Management
  • Presenting
  • Admin Support
  • Research
  • Analaysis
Education
    BA (Hons) Textiles: Innovation and Design
     - Loughborough, United Kingdom
    Art and Design Foundation Diploma
     - Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
    Art Foundation Diploma - Merit
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Awards
    Duke of Edinburgh
    Design sold to BNS Inc., Seoul, Korea
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