Fashion Student Spotlight: Jamie Dawes upcycles fabric to create fashion-forward wears

By Alissa Segal

North Vancouver-resident Jamie Dawes spent two years travelling abroad after completing her post-secondary diploma. The experience gave her a new perspective on the fashion industry and how she could change it for the better.

After the gap, Dawes came back to finish her degree with a brand new take on the importance of the fashion industry, and fully inspired to see if she could change it. Dawes used eco-friendly materials and methods to craft her line A Ware: a fashion-forward womenswear line.

A Ware will be unveiled at 2016 The Show: The Final Cut, presented by Tamoda Apparel Inc., on April 6 and 7 at the Imperial Vancouver (319 Main Street). Thirty-five other lines by Kwantlen Polytechnic University fashion design and technology students will also be showcased.

For event details, visit kpu.ca/2016fashionshow, or follow @kpu_fashion on Twitter and @kputheshow on Instagram.

Alissa Segal: Describe your collection.

Jamie Dawes: This collection is designed for the eco-conscious woman who wants to create a dialogue with others about her fashion choices, as well as influence them. She wants to use her fashion choices as a tool to fuel awareness about consumer waste in our society. This line is made entirely from upcycled materials: all fabrics come from secondhand clothing, dead stock, or overrun fabrics from factories around Greater Vancouver.

AS: What was the inspiration behind your line?

JD: I developed this line because it’s always been my goal to raise awareness about the impact fashion has on our environment and to offer a solution. This product reinforces that you can make a difference, while also changing the way that ethical fashion is perceived. It can be forward, fashionable, relevant, and rewarding.

AS: Can you tell me about your creative process?

JD: My creative process starts with inspiration from my surroundings: people I’ve met, places I’ve been or things I’ve seen. Starting from scratch by drafting a new design and seeing it come to life through a bolt of fabric is a pretty rewarding experience. I love fashion and I always will, but our society needs to change our "fast fashion" mindset. Trying to create something unique and different while producing the least amount of waste possible is what inspires me every time I start the design process. 

AS: What have you learned at KPU?

JD: I started sewing at a very young age and working with my hands has always been more intriguing than learning from a textbook. I decided to go to KPU not only because I love creating things, but also because I wanted to see if I could change our industry. It is mentally challenging being in an industry that is one of the biggest waste contributors on the planet. Trying to creatively think about how to make the industry better on a large scale has been my passion throughout my time in school.

AS: What are your plans after graduation?

JD: After graduation, I plan on moving to Squamish to continue to work in the outdoor industry.

AS: What aspect of design are you most passionate about?

JD: I hope to raise awareness in our society about the mass amount of waste that the fashion industry creates and hopefully influence other designers to do the same. I get a lot of inspiration from William McDonough. He is one of the most influential designers and thought leaders of our time.