Student sinks his teeth into vampire-inspired fashion project
Scottish folklore has played a crucial role in helping inspire a student’s designs for this year’s GCU Fashion Showcase.
Final year Fashion Design with Business student Levi Kaye created two outifts inspired by Glasgow’s spooky past.
Jenny wi' the Airn Teeth and the Gorbals Vampire have long been part of Glasgow’s history, with Levi having his own fond memories of hearing about the haunting figures when he was just ten years old. Fast forward a number of years and he has since developed a new perspective after carrying out his own research into the legendary tales.
His designs were thrust into the spotlight at this year’s GCU Fashion Showcase, which took place on the 10th of June. The event allows students from GCU to show off their hard work to family, friends and members of the public with a passion for fashion.
As well as a variety of different designs taking centre stage, the event also included a creative exhibition and the chance for students to gain an even deeper insight into their chosen field through the GCU Fashion Advisory Board.
We caught up with Levi to hear more about his personal and creative journey that has taken him from terrified ten-year old to a fashion designer sewing together a successful future career.
How did you come to study at GCU?
“I left school in 2016 but didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I then worked in a call centre for four years. During the pandemic, I made the decision to go to college to do a Fashion Design course at Fife College, progressing from the NQ to the HNC. GCU then appealed to me because I knew I would be getting the design aspect and the business insight as well. It was a bit of everything, which was really beneficial for me me because I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after leaving college. I knew this course would be the best way to move forward.”
When did you first become aware of the GCU Fashion showcase and what it was all about?
“I remember I attended an applicant Open Day and they were prepping for the Fashion Showcase. It was really exciting because I had never heard of anything like that before, and it gave me something to look ahead to and work towards.
“The opportunity to showcase my work at the end really stuck with me throughout third year – it was a big driving force. I think there were actually limited spots for what could be used in the fashion showcase from third year students, so that also really motivated me.
I loved getting the chance to experience the showcase last year. I didn’t help out backstage or anything like that – it was just about getting the chance to see my work and other people’s work. I think sometimes people think the GCU Fashion Showcase is just the catwalk, but there are different talks from industry professionals and a variety of different displays as well."
What did your designs for this year’s GCU Fashion Showcase focus on?
“Fourth year involved us creating our own brief and setting our own themes. I really like the story-telling aspect of fashion design, so my theme was Scottish folklore. I focused on Jenny wi' the Airn Teeth and the Gorbals Vampire. Both are based in Glasgow and stories that I knew about when I was growing up. I actually remember hearing about them when I was 10 and being genuinely scared! I then read them back before making the designs and I definitely picked up on things that I hadn’t before, which basically gave me a new perspective on it all.
“Jenny wi' the Airn Teeth was written from the point of view of the mother. The story is basically that Jenny, a vampire-like woman, is going to come and take your kids away, but this mother is almost begging Jenny to come because she’s really stressed and has so much to do.
“One of my looks focused on the narrator, the mother, and the second look focused on Jenny. The outfit portraying the mother featured a lot of leather and distressed knitwear, with the aim to capture the panic and desperation.
“Jenny’s look was a tailored thick black wool jacket, which I imagined to be really comfortable and protective in a way. I also had Gaudi panels that were layered with ruffles and a variety of fabrics to capture the inner turmoil and distress she had as well.”
How did it feel getting to see your design being modelled?
“It was a really good full-circle moment. I was obviously working towards getting good grades but being able to have my work on display for everyone to see was hugely satisfying. I brought my mum and cousins along, so witnessing them seeing it was really nice.
“I really felt like I had my own moment with the show this year because my name was up in lights and my two looks were together. I think that probably led to more pressure for the design and the background to it all to be really good, but it was something I enjoyed.”
How has the experience motivated you for the future?
“Going from third year into fourth year was a big step up because we were having to produce two garments. Having them there is really satisfying and definitely does provide some inspiration.
“I’ve actually put in a couple of Postgraduate applications focusing on fashion but also multimedia journalism because that’s something that really interest me and played a big part of my theory work. I’ve also got a sewing machine at home, so I’m going to continue to sew over summer and see where that takes me.”
Find out more about the Fashion Design with Business course here
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter