Level 4 BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design students have been working on a live brief with National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool to create a Tall Ships inspired exhibition. Students have produced a collection of costumes, for the public to try on and to be displayed! The exhibition ‘A Day At The Seaside’ takes place from 6th – 9th July.

Influenced by Victorian Walkers and Workers by the sea with a particular focus on Hartlepool and our local legend Henry Hood. Costumes include fishermen, ladies and children visiting the seaside, sailors and swimming costumes.

The students have interpreted garments from imagery found from the Victoria era. Using mostly similar fabrics and fastenings throughout their designs that would have been used in that period. They have carried out thorough research to ensure they have a good understanding on the fashion of the era and how it was constructed. All pieces have been carefully drafted and constructed by the students for their Cut & Construction Module

Student Ciara Carrington created a look inspired by the new masculine undertones in womenswear at the time. Speaking of her design she commented. ‘I received the brief ‘promenade woman’ for this live project in collaboration with the Royal Navy Museum. During the 1890s tailored suits and masculine styles became popular in womenswear, with designs borrowing elements from menswear. This practical style suited women’s new lifestyles and freedoms. My design is inspired by the work of the tailor John Redfern who helped popularise this new masculine look.

‘Looped braid, wide lapels and buttons were frequently used in his designs to give them a military look. My design incorporates these elements and gives a subtle nod to the Royal Navy Museum of Hartlepool through the use of nautical buttons and striped fabric, which is closely associated with the seaside. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with the museum and for my work to be displayed here.’

Costume student Neeve O’leary conducted first hand research for her work, a children sailor dress inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum: “It’s been 13 years since the last Hartlepool Tall Ships so I am very fortunate to be involved. To explore Hartlepool’s rich history, I visited local museums such as the Sir William Gray House where I was lucky enough to view authentic artefacts and their in-house archive. I constructed a 7-year-old girl’s sailor dress in which I was heavily inspired by a 1905 sailor suit from the Victoria and Albert Museum. I used pink stripes and gold nautical buttons to encapsulate a Victorian day at the beach. I would like to thank my tutors for this opportunity and my peers for their support throughout this project.”

Speaking of working with the museum and Tall Ships student Katie Barker commented, “ It has been really exciting to work alongside the museum and the tall ships event and I feel extremely lucky to be involved in such a huge and fun experience.” Her design “was determined by my assigned seaside character, a promenade woman, and has been inspired by the popular silhouette, styles and trends of the 1890s.” 

The exhibition is available to view this week and weekend from 6th July to 9th July as a part of the historic Tall Ships events programme.

After the last visit in 2010 a warm North East welcome awaits a fleet of over 30 ships and 1000’s of people as they join in and celebrate at one of the largest FREE maritime events in the UK. Four days of at atmospheric celebrations will transform Hartlepool’s Waterfront into a spectacular display of music, art, dance and song and of course there’s the Ships!  Don’t miss out make sure you visit our HE campus home town of Hartlepool this weekend.

 If you are interested in studying costume design at degree level we offer a dynamic and well established course that has graduates that have gone on to work for major productions such as Into The Woods, Flea Bag, Doctor Who and many more. Find out more and apply here.