Designer Feature- Alicia Barnes

Meet Alicia Barnes, one of the designers contributing to the upcoming Sustainable Style Charity Gala, a new event featuring an exhibition and auction of sustainable, student-made fashion, accessories, and art.

Introduce yourself; name, age, year in uni, degree path, a few interests.

Hi, my name is Alicia Barnes (@aliciaarting) and I am 20 years old.  I am a direct entry second year studying Ecology and Conservation Biology; thus, sustainability and the environment are fundamental in my everyday life! I view art and science as intertwined and through the completion of an Art Foundation last year I delved into the relationship between the two disciplines. I think the importance of art and science on each other is often overlooked, where it becomes a competition rather than a collaboration.

Tell me a little bit about your pieces; what they are, why you made them and how they reflect your personal style.

My personal style can often be characterised by a love of coordination in colour and design, involving statement earrings and monochromatic details. My crochet garments rarely follow patterns but are instead inspired by organic shapes, with the pattern of flowers appearing in many of my creations. This can be seen in the two pairs of earrings I have submitted, one with a singular flower motif and pearl detailing and the other with an asymmetrical design to mirror its matching top. The corresponding garments for these include an original top with sleeve and flower additions, as well as a jumper with puff stitch neckline and lace sleeves in a floral design.

Why did you decide to submit your pieces to the Charity Gala?

Whilst crochet is a more recent art form for me, I am particularly interested in installation art and how it can engage viewers. This emerged in my most recent exhibition with large-scale crochet hangings and tapestries, but I was intrigued by the challenge of working on wearable and accessible art. Stemming from these explorations, I thought that the Sustainable Style Charity Gala was a perfect opportunity to develop and exhibit my designs.

What does sustainability mean to you and how is that reflected in your pieces?

Crochet top available in auction

Some people still view the idea of sustainable fashion as inaccessible, with the assumption that sustainability in clothing can only exist in expensive slow fashion designer brands. However, I believe that it can be incorporated into anyone’s everyday style. Whether this is through charity shopping, buying into fewer micro-trends and one-wear fashion, or having a go at creating your own designs, introducing sustainability doesn’t have to necessarily be a big lifestyle change. Crochet is a beginner-friendly and popular technique to create your own one-of-a-kind pieces, which will last longer than mass-produced fast fashion.

Thank you to Alicia for sharing her words and submitting her work to the Gala. Don't miss your chance to see her pieces in person on March 9th. Tickets drop February 9th!