Meet Estelle Henry, Fashion Styling and Creative Direction Award Winner at GFW22. She studied Fashion Communication and Styling at De Montfort University.
How do you feel about winning a GFW22 award?
It鈥檚 such an amazing feeling. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to present my work and have my concepts and messages understood. My final major project was something so personal to me and I was proud of my work, so it was really nice for this to be appreciated by other people.
What was the inspiration starting point for your award-winning FMP?
My FMP, 鈥淓ach One Teach One鈥�, is an exploration of Jamaican Migration. I have intertwined this journey with the knowledge and teachings brought over by our elders. This migration movement has carried over a vibrant culture including customs, style, religion, and music. I have taken inspiration from my own history, with a specific focus on my Nan, who migrated from Jamaica to Britain in 1962. It was important to me that I explored and celebrated the rich, cultural history in my life.
What skills did you learn and develop during the production of your FMP?
Throughout my FMP, I explored multiple areas of Jamaican Migration which developed into a range of different final outcomes. This required me to utilise skills that I had developed and push myself further with trying new things to create outcomes that strongly communicated my concept and messages. For example, I curated and executed an exhibition that combined my photographic skills with the physical construction of objects and layouts. I also created a video that consisted of visuals and a soundscape. The fusion of voice, music and natural sounds that I had recorded and edited, produced sound that carried the viewers through the exhibition.
Alongside developing my physical skills, I also expanded my research and analytical skills. The concept of my project was so personal; therefore, it was important that the contextual/archival research was analysed in contemporary ways so I could reflect my style and present the outcomes to modern audiences in way that would be understood.
What were some challenges that you faced in producing your FMP and how did you overcome these?
This project meant a lot to me and I wanted to make sure I did this celebration of culture and my family history justice. At times I felt overwhelmed with the amount of work I was giving myself but the support from people around me really did help. I also reminded myself to enjoy the process and be grateful that I was able to create this work and communicate my story and messages.
Are there any messages or major themes in your FMP that you want people to take away? If so, how did you choose to communicate them?
My title 鈥楨ach One Teach One鈥� presents the message of the passing on of knowledge.
Although my project is about Jamaican migration, I want it to spark the initiative in people to explore their own family history and other cultures. Britain is becoming a lot more culturally diverse, and we should constantly be curious and learning and then taking this knowledge to teach others. People learn in different ways so for me to be able to take the narrative of my Nan and present in ways of visual communication, this provides a platform for more people to access and understand this.
Additionally, a quote that sticks out to me when researching and developing concepts is by writer James Baldwin. He said, 鈥淗istory is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.鈥� The exploration of my family history embodies the ideas of
learning valuable lessons from the past and celebrating in ways which keep our ancestors鈥� spirits alive.
What is an aspect of the fashion industry that you want to help improve or have a positive impact on?
For me diversity and representation are very key factors. I think it is extremely important for the younger generation to see people that look like them. Not only within modelling but people that are in positions of power and in roles that create the outcomes. It is vital to provide younger black audiences with narratives and representation that they can relate to.
What form does your FMP take? Is it a collection of clothing, book, presentation, etc? If relevant, how did you source the materials for the project?
My FMP takes multiple forms, starting with a physical hardback publication named 鈥淓ach One Teach One鈥�. Throughout the publication I have combined my skills of photography, styling, art direction and graphic design to present a journey of Jamaican migration. In addition, I curated an exhibition that included many handmade objects which elevated my photography and led the viewers on a journey as they made their way through.
Woven throughout was the sound of music and my Nan鈥檚 voice edited into a video shot by myself, that explored 鈥淢igrant Sounds鈥�. The exhibition was promoted by posters and a website which I designed and constructed. It also included the full digital publication and an online display of the exhibition. The materials I sourced for styling and the exhibition were mostly second-hand consisting of objects and textures that visually related to the themes I had explored.
What are your plans for the near future (further study/ internship/ work?) now that you've finished your BA?
I definitely want to gain more industry experience within art direction and styling. I have developed many skills that I think would be suitable for a range of roles, so I feel like there are many opportunities out there for me to explore.
Furthermore, I am trying to not put too much pressure on myself as I think it is important that I take time to navigate the world. I also want to explore deeper into own creativity by working on personal projects.