The Modern Artisan

Arielle is from South London. After taking fashion textiles at A Level, she attended the University of Brighton, where she studied Fashion with Business Studies and graduated as a British Fashion Council Scholar. With a keen interest in business and sustainability, she launched her own accessories brand, praised by Refinery29 for “redefining the ‘it’ bag”. Arielle’s designs, which utilise deadstock fabric and pre-loved treasures, explore her Nigerian-British identity and themes such as Afrofuturism and cultural sustainability. In addition to spending the past three years as a stylist, Arielle produced a fashion film that debuted at the V&A’s 2022-2023 exhibition, Africa Fashion. Her passion and unique viewpoint of sustainability in Nigeria were key motivators in applying for The Modern Artisan.

Daisy grew up in Hertfordshire. From a young age, she was interested in craft and learnt to sew and knit from her family members. Daisy studied Fashion Design at Kingston University, where she further refined her knitwear skills during a placement abroad at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She then specialised in creative technical knitwear production in her internship at Hugo Boss in Switzerland. Daisy applied for The Modern Artisan to learn how sustainable practices are being integrated into luxury and fashion. She is also interested in creating emotional connections between clothing and people, which she plans to continue incorporating into her designs through handcrafted manufacturing techniques such as knit, crochet and embellishment.

Georgia is from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. She studied Fashion Design at the University of South Wales, where she focused on designing a conscious collection, tracing fabric sources and producing her own textiles from excess fabrics. Featured in Cardiff Life and Spacecraft magazine for being a sustainable creative in South Wales, Georgia spent a year designing for Next before returning to her values and focusing on creating quality responsible garments. With a strong interest in heritage crafts and nature, Georgia is excited to play an active role in creating a collection with sustainability at its core and hopes The Modern Artisan will guide her in her next steps as a luxury atelier or working with smaller brands.

Sarah was born and raised in India. After studying Fashion Design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Bangalore and working as an associate fashion merchandiser for a luxury retailer in Mumbai, she moved to the UK to complete her Master’s at Kingston University’s School of Art. Falling in love with fashion at a young age, Sarah was inspired to become a designer after watching Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 1999 show, No. 13. She joined The Modern Artisan to design collaboratively with others and spend time with likeminded people who share a passion for sustainability. Sarah hopes to launch her own brand and create a platform that brings India’s heritage craftsmanship to a global stage.

Flavia was born and raised in Romania. Having loved fashion from a young age, she studied Fashion Design at Staffordshire University. During her initial years in fashion, she created bespoke outfits for clients in the music industry and worked to launch her own label. In her designs, Flavia draws inspiration from her Romanian heritage. Previously working as an assistant designer for a luxury tailoring brand, she is determined to make a positive impact on the luxury and fashion industry and believes that collaboration is key to resolving challenges throughout the supply chain. Flavia is passionate about working with artisans and their communities to preserve traditional craftsmanship and reinterpret them with a modern approach for fashion design.