“Paws” for thought with Kingston University’s Sarah Goodwin’s childish fashion collection

Kingston University showcased a wide pool of talent at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week. As one of 65 students graduating from Kingston University this year, Sarah Goodwin brought to the fore her nostalgic fashion collection, inspired by Steiff teddy bears and childhood memories.

The 22-year-old from Worthing has created six women’s wear looks for her collection, all combining the pink and blue mohair from the treasured toys with her own hand-drawn prints. The fashion student was fortunate enough to have the German manufacturer Steiff (whose cuddly collectibles can sell for hundreds of pounds), send her several metres of material for her work.

One of the six looks includes an oversized downy duffle coat in baby blue, with giant wooden toggles matched with a white collared dress. “I couldn’t press or fuse the furry fabric, so I had to think really carefully about the shapes I wanted to create,” Sarah said. “I’ve used crinoline, for example, to help hold the duffle coat away from the body and give it that cuddly, two-sizes-too-big look.”

For the oversized theme, giant pleated culottes carry it through, while hand-drawn “doodle” prints in bright pink feature on a trouser and top set, layered over a sleeveless jumpsuit. Sarah explained: “I wanted to bring this aspect of my school days into the collection. They’re just like the sketches I used to make all over my maths books.”

A selection of the graduate’s work was on show on the Graduate Fashion Week catwalk, with the Kingston show being held on Tuesday 4^th June. 

Marium Ul-Haq
Photos: Courtesy of Kingston University