Mairead Wall

Third Year

Textile Art and Artefact

What was the main inspiration for your collection?

My collection was driven by the collaboration of old and new. I wanted to combine hand and machine techniques to create pieces that had their own unique aesthetic. In particular I was inspired by Aran knitting techniques, such as cabling and diamonds, as aran garments are recognised world wide as Irish. I wanted to infuse these traditional Irish techniques with a contemporary twist by using modern techniques of transfer printing and machine knitting. Using simple garment shapes and playful colours and patterns I drew inspiration from my own childhood in order to bing my own past and present together.

What’s your favourite part of the design process?

I have a very tactile approach and I am always driven by hands on techniques. I love to construct and build fabric and garments by experimenting through knitting. Sampling is my favourite part of the design process as it allows me the scope to try new things and explore new materials in unexpected ways. Did your vision and way of working change in the past year? The biggest change for me in the last year has been realising that I wanted to work through knitwear. Before I had been nervous about pigeonholing myself too early, but in the past year I have been able to focus on what skills I wanted to build for my career and I realised that knitwear design felt very natural to me.

Did your vision and way of working change in the past year?

The biggest change for me in the last year has been realising that I wanted to work through knitwear. Before I had been nervous about pigeonholing myself too early, but in the past year I have been able to focus on what skills I wanted to build for my career and I realised that knitwear design felt very natural to me.