Ruth Chapman

RUTH CHAPMAN

FASHION BA (HONS)

Textures are a key focal point for designer Ruth Chapman, who as well as taking an interest in hand sewing and embellishment techniques, likes to create new textures within her pieces.

Ruth enjoys the drawing and researching part of the design process and has a passion for photographing obscure textures or objects she spots while out and about; using the photos as sources of inspiration for a new print before trying different medias and mark-marking techniques to attempt to capture it within the garment.

For her final year menswear collection, Ruth, from Northallerton in North Yorkshire, has taken inspiration from a hunter vs prey concept. She has focused on the iridescence of the feathers of birds and fish scales, looking at how they can be used as a defence mechanism to temporarily blind predators. This has inspired the different prints and textures which feature in her collection, with the garments also taking influence from the hunters and fishermen that hunt these creatures.

Before her studies at University, Ruth made it to the final of the Young Designer of the Year Award at the Clothes Show Live event in 2013. She also completed a placement at Suzie Turner during her further education studies; being offered a role to stay working with the company for the remainder of her placement year after completing her initial three-month placement.