Fashion forward student turns entrepreneur

Student Abigail Parker is putting her fashion qualification to good use by designing and selling her own t-shirts and handbags.
The 18 year old from Newport has already sold some of her unique silkscreen printed t-shirts and bags online, on Depop and in the Black Bear Vintage shop in Newport. Abigail will be starting her Higher National Diploma (HND) in Fashion and Textiles this September at the Crosskeys campus.

Abigail said, “Initially I chose to study the fashion and clothing level 3 diploma because I have always loved making clothes since I was young, when my Nan made me a pink princess type skirt.

“I wasn’t the best at English, maths and science but I did feel I performed well in creative subjects such as art & design.”
Abigail, who’s been studying at the College since 2016, achieved D*DD in her diploma and chose to start a university course at the College as she felt she wasn’t ready to go to university.

She uses silkscreen printing as part of her design which is a printing technique where mesh is used to transfer ink onto a fabric. Parts of the mesh is blocked by a solution, acting as a stencil. This is just one of the techniques that pupils can learn on the course.

“My designs are inspired by taking elements out of my final major project, free hand designs and from other printed shirts I have really liked. I chose to do bags and tshirts because I wanted to create something funky for everyday wear and also because I wanted to start off with basic pieces to see how they sell”, added Abigail.

Abigail hopes to start her own business selling funky festival wear in the near future, you can view pieces on her Depop account.

We have a number of Fashion and Textile courses and higher education courses here at the College.