NAME: GRACIE MAE CHADWICK . UNIVERSITY : LEEDS ART UNIVERSITY.
TITLE: THE POETICS OF THE ORDINARY
THE AESTHETIC: INTIMATE, REMINISCENT, MINDFUL REMINISCENT, MINDFUL, CURIOUS, MIND & EMOTIONAL.
W: Max-Pierre Pearson
The Poetics of the Ordinary explores the quiet beauty found within the overlooked moments of everyday life. This graduation collection reflects deeply on slowness and the subtle emotional textures of memory that exist within our daily routines. By championing a more mindful approach to design, the collection proves that true meaning is discovered through stillness and paying close attention to the passing moments of daily life.
The creative process began by documenting these everyday experiences through a slower gaze. Using expired film left over from a granddad’s hand-me-down camera, alongside collected mundane items like grocery receipts and leaves from the walk home, ordinary fragments were transformed into art. Each garment emerged through deliberate imperfection, keeping sustainability at its core by utilizing deadstock leather, twill wool, repurposed household tulle curtains, antique hardware, and fabrics naturally dyed with rust and coffee. Through exaggerated silhouettes, the collection beautifully reveals the striking simplicity hidden beneath the surface.
"The collection proposes a more mindful approach to design, where meaning is discovered through stillness."
Reflecting on the intense journey toward a degree, the most vital lesson learned was the importance of self-belief. Staying entirely true to your own beliefs and interests is the ultimate key to success. The greatest privilege of the university experience is the opportunity to work intensely on something that deeply inspires you—and, ultimately, pouring your energy into what you love.
For the next generation of fashion students embarking on their final year, the advice is simple: refuse to get caught up in comparison.
"Don’t compete with everyone else. If you carry on doing what you love, you will be proud of what you have achieved."
It is easy to constantly think there is someone "better" than you, but focusing on personal inspiration is what brings true fulfillment. Students should embrace every single moment; though some days will inevitably be more difficult than others, the end result is entirely worth it.
Looking ahead, the next step of this creative journey is already unfolding. After participating in a live brief during university with Clothsurgeon—the renowned bespoke streetwear tailoring house on Savile Row—the young designer won a coveted internship. It marks an exciting next stage, offering the perfect platform to contribute to an amazing company while absorbing invaluable industry skills.