2015 Fashion Show designer spotlight: Dulcet by Jennifer Wilson

Unlike much of the fashion industry, Jennifer Wilson wants to make a difference when it comes to industry standards in eco-friendliness and sustainability.

Wilson, a fourth and final-year fashion design and technology student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, was born and raised in Vancouver. From a young age she enjoyed arts and crafts, and in grade school she would sit in front of the television sketching her own designs as she watched Fashion File. In her high school years, Wilson thrifted for and altered vintage findings to create her style.

Even then, she wasn’t sure fashion design was the right path. Thinking it was too frivolous, she explored art courses, along with some night classes in sewing and drawing. When she realized she was more interested in her night school courses than her art ones, she decided to head down a creative path and enrol in KPU’s fashion program.

Angely Monagas: Describe your collection

Jennifer Wilson: Dulcet is a low-impact collection for women who are fashion-conscious, but also looking for clothing that is ethically produced. All of the clothes are made with low-impact materials such as silk, Tencel, and organic cotton. For some of the garments I also used natural hand dyeing and digital printing, both of which are dyeing methods that produce less waste.

AM: What was the inspiration behind the collection?

JW: I wanted to create a collection that placed equal value on style and conscious production. The fashion industry as a whole is a massive polluter—the second greatest polluter in the world after agriculture. Understanding the negative effects made me question my values and want to design for the slow fashion movement. Unlike the overwhelming pace of “fast fashion,” slow fashion chooses to acknowledge the fashion industry’s environmental and social problems, and focuses on practices that are respectful and uncompromising.

AM: What was your design/creative process?

JW: I first looked for inspirational images to get the mood of the collection. I started with a few quick sketches and from there sourced materials depending on season and colour. I had a general idea of the kind of garments the collection would have when I chose the fabrics. Once I narrowed down my final pieces, I drafted and sewed prototypes for each garment. Some garments took more work than others.

AM: What have you learned in your time at KPU?

JW: Along with drafting and sewing skills, I’ve learned computer skills at an industry level using software that is actually used within the fashion industry. In the program, we each interned with a local company: this gave me the opportunity to see how what I learned is utilized.

AM: What are your plans after graduation?

JW: After graduation, I plan to find a position in the local fashion industry where I can further develop my skills. I also want to continue with projects of my own that take on slow fashion. In the future, I’d like to build my own business and work with artisans in developing countries to create slow fashion for women.

Dulcet will be unveiled at the 2015 Fashion Show, presented by Tamoda Apparel, on April 9 at the River Rock Casino. Thirty-eight other lines by KPU fashion design and technology students will also be showcased. For event details, visit kpu.ca/2015fashionshow, or follow @kpu_theshow on Twitter and @theshow2015 on Instagram.