I’ve always been a creator. Long before formal training, I was instinctively repurposing what was around me - adapting, improvising, and finding new uses for existing materials. That way of thinking naturally carried through into my Fashion Design degree at the University of Leeds, where my focus on construction, materials, and problem-solving became more refined.
During a placement year in London, working with pioneers of upcycled fashion, Junky Styling, I became increasingly conscious of how design could challenge conventional ideas of value and waste. It was during this time, outside of my work there, that I created a bag using fabric sourced from a charity shop. That piece became the foundation of SEAM.
After graduating, I worked across Garment Technology departments before moving into Accessories Design for an international supplier. This role took me to factories in India, Bangladesh, and China, where I saw first-hand the scale of global production. While I was already aware of the environmental impact of mass manufacture, witnessing it at this level made it impossible to ignore. The volume of materials, the speed of production, and the resulting waste brought that reality sharply into focus.
SEAM is a response to those experiences. Each bag is made from existing materials wherever possible, avoiding virgin fabrics, and produced slowly and carefully in the UK. Every piece is designed with intention, respect for its materials, and an emphasis on longevity.
Designing with the Material
SEAM designs begin with the material. Rather than working to a fixed outcome, each piece is developed in response to the garments it is made from. Jackets, coats, and other durable textiles are selected for their structure, quality, and potential to be reworked.
Selecting the Garment
Garments are sourced second-hand and chosen using industry knowledge of fabric performance, construction, and wear. Once a piece arrives, it is documented in its original form before design decisions begin. Existing details—pockets, linings, seams, fastenings—are assessed and, where possible, retained and integrated into the new design.
Resolving the Form
Patterns and construction methods are adapted to suit each garment. While silhouettes may evolve, the approach remains consistent: the material dictates proportion, structure, and finish. No two pieces follow the same blueprint.
The Finished Piece
Cutting, construction, and finishing are carried out carefully and deliberately in the UK. The result is a considered, one-of-a-kind piece, shaped by the history of the fabric and resolved through design rather than mass production.