Farming inspires a bit of agri-couture
Designer’s stunning feedbag fashion statement
A student who grew up on a Perthshire farm has made a real splash in the fashion world with her farminginspired garments. Jessica Purdie (left) wanted to pay homage to her youth growing up on Dirnanean Farm, near Blairgowrie, for her end of year collection as she prepares to graduate from Bath Spa University. She recalled using feedbags to create clothes when she was a child, and used that as inspiration.
And her idea proved so successful it was selected as one of 100 from 1500 students to be showcased in front of fashion experts at Graduate Fashion Week in London earlier this month.
Jessica (23) said: “When I grew up we were surrounded by feedbags.
“We used to dress up in them and cut them up to make something out of them.
“I wanted the collection to promote farming.
“I used the silhouette of the feedbag to start, the whole collection was made using a square and I even went to Habro, who make the feedbags, so I could use their graphics.”
Jessica attended Starloch Primary School and went on to Pitlochry High and Breadalbane Academy.
From there she spent a year studying textiles at Glasgow Clyde College before moving to Bath three years ago.
Her work – which is covered in 20,000 rhinestones and also features images of cows and sheep - was showcased at the graduate show in Shoreditch, London, and was shortlisted for the massive gala show that features just 25 graduate students.
Although it didn’t make it to the gala, Jessica reckons it still made
The line was inspired by feedbags that Jessica saw around her farm. Pic by Simon Armstrong an impact with the fashion experts.
“It went surprisingly well, I’ve been quite overwhelmed,” she said.
“I didn’t even think I would get picked for the show but everyone loved it. People were putting out pictures on Instagram and things like that.”
Jessica is now waiting to find out her final results so she can graduate.
She admits she had not planned to go into design as a career and would focus on a PR role instead. But the reaction to her farming line has been so positive she hopes to develop it in the coming months a far cry from dressing up in old feedbags in Perthshire.