Inspire: Meet MFA Young Designer of the Year Charlotte Bull
25-01-2025
Q What time does your alarm go off?
C: I usually don’t set an alarm as I like to let my body wake up naturally, which is usually around 8am.
Q What’s a typical day like for you?
C: At the moment my life is a little relaxed whilst I await my upcoming position. I am also learning Cantonese and Korean.
Q Tell us about your education / career route, where did it all start for you?
C: After and discovering my love for art, I studied for my A-levels in Art, Textiles and Photography at New College Nottingham. Textiles being my favourite subject there, I wished to explore this pathway further and obtained a place at Nottingham Trent University, to study Fashion Knitwear and Knitted Textile Design.
There I learnt the technicality and beauty of knitwear within my first two-years. This prepared me for my placement year, which I was honored to spend at Tommy Hilfiger Europe, in Amsterdam, and Brixon Overseas Ltd, in Hong Kong.
Q What was it like taking part in the Midlands Fashion Awards 2018?
C: It was a pleasure taking part in the Awards and got to meet so many great like-minded designers and industry professionals. It was also amazing to see the high standards of other collections and appreciate the hard work and creative talents from other designers.
Q And how did it feel to be announced as the winner of your category?
C: It was an honour to be chosen as the ‘Young Designer of the Year’ at the Midlands Fashion Awards, and it still feels a little unreal. Showing my graduate collection and receiving the feedback I did was really great to hear.
Q What’s your career plan going into the New Year?
C: I am so eager and excited to be starting my position soon at Kent Knitters, back in Hong Kong. They design knitwear and sportswear for brands across the globe.
Q What would you say has been your most difficult hurdle so far?
C: I would say balancing a knitwear collection into 4 outfits, as once I design I want to make every piece.
Q Best piece of advice you have been given?
C: That everything happens for a reason.
Q Is there anyone in the fashion sector that you think is inspirational?
C: I really admire Hussein Chalayan, for both his work and his passion for sustainability in fashion. This is something which I wanted to address within my own collection, by knitting to size, and using a more environmentally friendly yarn. (I was sponsored by Usha Yarns Ltd, which utilise fabric remnants from factories, and recycle into new fibres. I used 100% cotton yarns from their 2018 collection.)
Q After work you like to…
C: Relax and spend time with my family and friends.
Instagram: @charlotteeliza_knits
Images by Steven Murphy – S M PHOTOGRAPHY
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