Name: Countessa Taiwo Chaves-de-Campos
Age: 21
University: South Essex
Course: BA (Hons) Fashion Design
Describe your design aesthetic in 3 words? Hip hop glamorous, versatile but always urban
What message or story do your designs portray?
I believe the message my designs portray are of someone that really just wants to dress up and stand out, ‘peacocking’ if you will. I never really fit in as a child and as a result of this, I am very ‘different’ as an adult – my designs embody this.
What is one career aspiration that you would most like to achieve?
My main career aspiration would be to have a huge fashion label, to the extent that ‘.:BBA:.’ would be well known in all continents.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the fashion industry today?
FAST FASHION IS KILLING THE INDUSTRY. People want to follow ‘influencers’ and trends – they want to be trendy. Where’s the originality? everybody wants what’s new and quick to get a hold of but people do not understand the repercussions of the actions and the domino effect it has when you buy into a trend.
How do you think the pandemic is going to change the way we consume fashion?
Going back into lockdown, I personally feel like we’re going to have a lot more items thrown at us on our social media platforms due to the current recession and companies wanting us to fall into the trap of buying fast fashion.
How is your concept design going to translate to something people can wear in everyday life?
Confidence. The focus should be on how it makes you feel in the morning, when you wake up and want to put it on because of all the emotion you feel when you look good.
What has been your biggest inspiration to create fashion?
Versatility is one of my biggest inspirations. For the most part fashion has always been for me. I create for myself, this being said I appreciate it because it allows me to have the versatility to wear and put on anything I feel like, but it’s also how clothes make you feel, the feeling and emotions it evokes when you buy something new and of quality -all of this but made by me. The confidence you get when something on the outside portrays emotion on the inside, as well as this it’s the adaptability, being able to be someone new everyday, almost as if you are playing a different character in the game of life.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
With a few stores open and bringing to life one of my many big goals to create an ‘urbanSelfridges’, with many brands ‘for the culture’ under one roof, a place of atmosphere and place of vibe, but most of all an experience!
