Charlotte Richard’s pixels and threads

The concept behind the Ravensbourne graduate’s collection is a reflection on the movie Fight Club. The film is a representation of society shaping our perception of how we should act or what we should do. Just like that, through repetition of the same routine, the fight club conforms the individual personalities of its members into a mould. “We are absorbed in this way of living life according to what the media plugs into our minds. I wanted to challenge this routine we all are trapped in, one way or another. Creating outfits that can be perceived as functional but also as a reflection of freedom and individuality,” she explained.

“I looked into the idea of how men cover up their feelings in layers and used protective clothing as a reference.”

Charlotte’s collection is an ode to protective wear with a modern appeal. “I looked into the idea of how men cover up their feelings in layers and used protective clothing as a reference,” she said. Her inspiration comes from silhouettes of the 90s, vintage clothes and grunge looks. At first glance, the garments the designer created seem to collide together, part of a group whose components meld into each other. The more time is spent with her creations the more the distinctive elements of each of her looks start to stand out.

Metal buckles, leather fabrics, irregular seamlines, distorted prints. Charlotte Richards’ garments are a galore of intricate details. The grunge look of The Clash played a big part in the designer’s creative process. “The band inspired many of my zips, metal eyelets and belts,” she said. The collection features a twist on the 50s’ zoot suit and sharp tailored silhouettes, whose seams have been torn apart and patterns have been distorted.

March’s lockdown, however, put a brake on the designer’s production. “Nobody had any idea of what would happen to our final collections. In the end, they were not completed.” During this time of uncertainty, technology came to help. “Thanks to this situation, I have embraced more of the digital world,” Charlotte said. Her garments were ultimately made of pixels instead of threads. The designer presented her collection on a digital catwalk. Created in collaboration with Twitch TV, the event was live streamed for more than 60.000 people. “I had no clue you could go down that route, but I really enjoyed it. Digital is something I’ve always been interested in and it’s also a good element in terms of how we can be more sustainable,” she said.

“Everyone knows that the earth is dying, and we have to do something to protect it.”

Sustainability is a theme dear to Charlotte. “Everyone knows that the earth is dying, and we have to do something to protect it.” As a young designer, she is aware of the waste produced yearly by the fashion industry and naturally she tried to be mindful towards the planet while planning her collection. “As a student with limited supplies and resources, it was hard to be completely sustainable.” From digital knitting, to vegetarian leather and second-hand yarn, the designer tried to be as eco-friendly as possible with what she had available. “There’s no need to buy loads of new fabrics, scraps can be used to create new garments too,” she said.

Her attention to sustainability went beyond the fabrics she chose for her final collection. Charlotte had planned to use Natural Dylon dyes and thought to screen-print the dye onto the clothes by hand to reduce energy consumption. “I am always considering ways I can re-think a fashion forward society.”

“I’ve got so many ideas and I want to give them to the industry, but it’s impossible to do so when even entry level jobs ask for five years of experience.”

Having recently concluded her studies at Ravensbourne University and feeling eager to start working, Charlotte thinks that the industry is not yet easily welcoming new graduates. “I just want to be out there and be creative. I’ve got so many ideas and I want to give them to the industry, but it’s impossible to do so when even entry level jobs ask for five years of experience,” she said.

A firm believer that with patience things will come, Charlotte is ready to keep challenging herself as a creative. The designer, whose curious mind has constantly been filled with new ideas ever since she was a child, is keen on becoming part of the fashion industry. Wishing to experiment with her creations and offering some of her thoughts to the world. “I would like to help other designers with my ideas, turning ready-to-wear products into high fashion ones or even go more into digital catwalks. My mind is constantly creating. I’m really roaring to go.”