Since graduating from The Northern School of Art’s BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design course in 2014, Charlotte Jarps has developed a creative career that has taken her from fashion print design and teaching to building her own multidisciplinary creative business, Jarpz.
Charlotte gained valuable industry experience during and after her degree, including internships with Hallmark, Alexander McQueen and Zandra Rhodes. At Alexander McQueen, she worked in print design with the Menswear team, while her time with Zandra Rhodes gave her the opportunity to see large-scale prints develop from initial sketches and paintings into finished designs. She also gained experience in fashion styling, working on shoots for album covers, magazines and websites.
After returning to the North East and working in education, Charlotte began customising shoes as a creative hobby. What started as a way to explore her creativity developed into something much bigger, with commissions growing through social media and leading Charlotte to establish Jarpz as a full-time business in 2019.
Jarpz is now a multidisciplinary creative brand specialising in one-of-a-kind hand-painted and embellished footwear, alongside fashion print design, creative workshops, brand collaborations, live events and activations. Charlotte’s approach brings together many of the skills she developed through textiles, including drawing, painting, print, sewing and embellishment.
Her work has seen her collaborate with major international sportswear and fashion brands. Charlotte has worked with Adidas at a Women’s Euro pop-up event in Zurich, where she created hand-painted designs for customers’ Adidas Sambas. She has also delivered shoe embellishment workshops with Salomon in collaboration with Office and Offspring, and worked with Clarks Originals on an event centred around customising Wallabees.
Creative workshops have become an important part of Charlotte’s work, allowing her to share her skills and encourage others to explore their own creativity. Her workshops combine customisation and embellishment techniques, including painting, beading, appliqué and charms, while her events and brand collaborations allow her to bring the creative process directly to audiences.
Charlotte’s career demonstrates the versatility of a Textiles & Surface Design degree and the different directions a creative practice can take. From fashion print design and styling to custom footwear, live events and entrepreneurship, she has developed her own niche by combining the skills and interests she explored during her time at The Northern School of Art.
For Charlotte, the course provided the opportunity to experiment with different creative disciplines and develop the confidence to find her own direction. Her journey from textiles graduate to business owner is an example of how creative skills can evolve into an individual practice and a successful career on your own terms.
Website: jarpz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarpz_/