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Charlotte Webb

Bath Spa University

Specialising in knit and construct, I create bespoke designs inspired by historical narratives and imagery. My work often develops from museum visits, literature, and architectural motifs, with the intention of exploring drawing through knit, both pictorially and abstractly. My colour palettes are integral to my design process, currently exploring how to achieve vibrant colours through natural sources. With a keen interest in sustainable fashion, I am investigating natural plant-based materials through unique fibre sources, for example, rose and seacell. Focusing on contemporising traditional techniques, such as spinning and knitting, I aim to use the past to influence the future through luxury craftsmanship. Having previously focused on fine art disciplines, my design process takes a narrative-led approach, where drawings are developed through conceptual exploration. By creating my own yarn, applying colour, and using knit techniques including intarsia and hand embroidery, I have developed an ongoing inquiry into textural drawing. By investigating vibrant natural colour, I am continuously striving to improve the sustainability of my practice without compromising on bold colour and materiality.

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Ornamentation in Abstraction

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2026

Ornamentation in Abstraction is an investigation into turning the architectural into the natural, drawing inspiration from the Victorian architecture of Kensington. The grandeur and opulence of Victorian design was routed in reassuring the wealthy of their social status, using mass consumption of materialistic objects in order to fit in. This concept follows a similar trend to current social ideologies, where social media perpetuates fast fashion trend cycles and buying products to show off rather than for your own enjoyment. Therefore, this design explores turning a symbol of ornamentation into something real and tangible, encouraging people to wear what makes them feel empowered and using the bespoke nature of sustainable design to stand out in a crowd. The visual design is a translation of this greater concept, using the repetition of a window motif and alternating their orientation to showcase the architectural side and the natural side, both being polar opposites yet connected. This piece is part of a greater collection made from completely plant-based materials, both through fibre and natural dyes. Throughout this project, I have explored how to create soft yet vibrant natural colour to provide sustainable design with a more romantic and playful colour palette, as opposed to neutrals. The discovery of weld and sappanwood have particularly defined my collection, the weld resulting in an almost neon yellow, whilst the sappanwood can provide an array of rich pinks and purples, a fantastic alternative to cochineal. The hand spun yarn furthers this romantic feel, using the lustre of lotus and bamboo fibres to provide an elegance, reminiscent of the golden ornamentation that adorns the architectural inspiration. I have fallen in love with spinning my own yarn as a way to connect the maker to the customer, the tangibility and therapeutic nature of the repetitive action helping to ground the design in reality. Sustainable design is undeniably important for me to consider as an emerging textile designer, and through my specialism of knit, I will continue to investigate natural fibres and dyes to create bespoke and unique designs.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.