A designer originally from Manchester and with a degree in Fashion Design from Nottingham Trent University, Danielle Stradomsky has always had a huge interest in the fields of fashion and art. ‘I think my love of art created my interest in fashion as I found it so interesting from a research perspective,’ she explains.
In 2017, Danielle applied that passion to the FAD brief. ‘The FAD brief for 2017 was based on art movements of the early 20th century. I found it really engaging as it required me to look at certain galleries and artists I wouldn’t have come across otherwise,’ she continues. ‘Inspired by the surge of technology after the Second World War, these ideas and artists helped me create my collection, where I blended modern technologies such as laser-cutting with traditional ways of working such as weaving.’
Since the FAD competition, Danielle has moved from strength to strength, starting work as a design assistant for London-based supplier Alison Hayes and volunteering for the FAD Fashion Futures course, helping 16-19 year olds enter the world of fashion. ‘FAD really helped me as a designer by pushing me to look at different types of art and ways of working,’ she says. ‘It helped my confidence and the show itself during London Fashion Week was great exposure and an amazing opportunity to have that platform to showcase my work.
‘It also really helped me meet people who I would never have met before,’ she says. ‘Through FAD I was interviewed by Intidex, which was intense but a great opportunity to network and gain interview practice, and gave me the opportunity to speak with lots of different design brands at once.’
When it comes to the future, Danielle plans to continue her contributions to FAD Fashion Futures and, during the upcoming season at London Fashion Week, will be helping at a high fashion brand. ‘Fashion gets such a bad reputation for being elitist and stuffy but working with FAD has been the opposite,’ Danielle concludes. ‘Everyone I’ve spoken to at or through FAD has been friendly and warm and the overall atmosphere feels like family. Everybody supports everybody and, without it, I wouldn’t have the career I have now. I’m incredibly thankful for that!’
