Freya Mango

I am choosing to pursue fashion design as I have always used art as a medium to express myself, primarily through a more traditional approach, such as drawing and painting, which I had explored formally in a secondary school setting. However, in the few months since graduation, I have found myself with more freedom, both creatively and academically, allowing me to experiment and push myself to pursue my creative visions through fashion and textile design. This period has taught me a lot. Working with textiles has allowed me to break away from the rigid, narrow-minded way I previously created art, in which I focused only on the end goal, rather than the process.

However, my transition to working with textiles was not smooth - I undeniably struggled with the practical elements, such as the intricacies of sewing techniques, as well as pushing myself out of my comfort zone and accepting that, more often than not, the final product did not turn out the exact way I had envisioned it. Instead of becoming increasingly frustrated, this only further encouraged me to enjoy the process and release myself from my own, limiting perfectionism. Additionally, I finally permitted myself to take the appropriate time to adjust and refine my projects, rather than simply rushing to reach the end goal. This has allowed me to rediscover the passion that once lit me up as a child, and I watched myself create more pieces in a matter of months than I had struggled to produce in the previous five years. I now immensely enjoy experimenting intuitively and taking risks, which has allowed me to discover unexpected ideas, push the boundaries of my designs, and develop a more original and expressive creative voice. Embracing spontaneity also helps me remain open-minded and respond to inspiration in the moment. This has aided my ability to remain calm under high-stress situations and even turn small accidents or surprises into opportunities for innovation. I believe this sense of freedom in my work makes it feel more complex, weighed, and authentic.

One of the central reasons for my aspirations is my interest in sustainability, and I strive to reflect this through combining creative experimentation with critical research into circular design, ethical production, and new textile systems. I aim to question and transform the environmental and social impact of fashion. It is widely acknowledged that there is already enough clothing in existence, enough to clothe the next six generations, which is why I do not strive to simply make new clothes; I am committed to generating pieces and concepts with textiles that are already in circulation, to create with compassion. I have attempted to express my keen interest in this area of sustainable practices in my portfolio, which exhibits pieces made entirely from reused material. I am committed to expressing an innovative designer voice while actively contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry.

With my education, I want to develop the ability to create fashion that intertwines innovation with sustainability. I intend to design garments and collections that minimize environmental impact by means of continuing to reuse and repurpose materials that already exist, while maintaining strong creative expression. I aim to develop a deep understanding of materials, circular design, and ethical production practices, so that I can make conscious choices at every stage of the design process. Ultimately, I want to challenge traditional fashion systems, inspire more responsible practices, and contribute to a future where fashion is beautiful, meaningful, and environmentally and socially responsible.