Alumni teams up with Swedish fashion label

by Cher Heasmer

A former Central Saint Martins (CSM) student has teamed up with Swedish fashion label Weekday to launch her very own collection of clothing for men and women.

26 year-old Laura Mackness was approached by the label after they had seen her MA collection at an exhibition last year.

“I was really flattered to be approached by Weekday and so pleased that it has allowed my designs to be accessible to a wider audience,” Mackness, who studied MA Fashion, said.

Weekday is a sister company to the fashion label Cheap Monday which is sold in Urban Outfitters stores in the UK.

Co-lab project

Each year the Swedish fashion label collaborates with a university graduate who is given the opportunity to design a collection as part of the company’s Co-lab project.

After seeing her designs, Weekday asked Mackness to use her prints for a collection which sees her signature designs of oversized eye lashes and wandering hands printed onto a range of clothing for men and women.

 

The up-and-coming designer said: “I stumbled upon Jean and Francois Robert's book ‘Face to Face’ when I was studying on the MA and have been inspired by it ever since.

Another favourite of mine, and an inspiration directly responsible for the hand prints, is the illustrator Saul Steinberg.”

 

She added: “It was interesting to work with Weekday as I have never really worked in such a way before. Obviously with them being based in Sweden and me in London, all of our communication was done via email.

"I designed the prints as well as the shape of the t-shirts, dresses and leggings. These designs were then sent to Weekday along with measurements.

Following this, samples were sent back and forth until both myself and Weekday were happy with the fit, print placement, fabrics and finishings.”

Already on sale

Mackness’ collection has already been produced and is now being sold in Weekday stores in Sweden, Germany and Denmark.

Since graduating from CSM, Mackness has been working on various freelance projects as well as looking for a permanent position in a design team.

She said: “My advice to students studying fashion design would be to make the most of any opportunity you have to gain work experience, find out what your strengths are and concentrate on that.”