Louise Gray – Colours, collaborations and attitude



September 4, 2018

Louise Gray is an independent designer specialising in fashion and textiles. She draws on a broad range of design practices and creative partnerships that contribute to her unique style.

Louise specialises in brightly coloured garments, using bold patterns and shapes, which have earned the young designer a loyal following and catwalk success.

Her bold and colourful designs are seen across womenswear, menswear, textiles, weaving, print and embroidery. “I’ve recently taken on projects with spacial, more graphic and also artistic design,” she says. “I like to apply my skills to as many disciplines as much as possible.” Louise is showing her new collection this September, outside the fashion system.

Model wearing Louise Gray clothing

Originally from Fraserburgh, Louise moved to Glasgow when she was 17. She studied textile design at Glasgow Clyde College then at the Glasgow School of Art and was then inspired by fellow Scot, Professor Louise Wilson, to study her MA course in fashion at Central Saint Martins in London.

She cites her early creative influences as playing a key role in her career. “My art department was my salvation at school, I’ll be eternally grateful for it. We need wonderful teachers for young people growing up,” she says.

“Walking around Aberdeen Art Gallery when I was younger made me think for myself. Art helps you question things – what is this? Do I like it? How does it make me feel? Art is for everyone.”

In starting out as a designer, Louise was interested in creating a world of her own, aesthetically and visually. “I got into it through fashion and textiles and I realised how much you can really communicate within and outside these boundaries.”

Model wearing Louise Gray designs

In her career Louise has explored a range of high profile collaborations, bringing her fun and colourful aesthetic to a wider audience. She has worked with Marques’ Almeida at London Fashion Week, Topshop, Brora, Judy Blame and Lane Crawford as well as individual artists.

“I have a body of work I am very proud of – especially my make-up, shoes and clothing ranges, but I also love my collaborators, some unnamed,” she adds. “People like my fellow Scottish friend Kirsty McDougall who is a wondrous weaver.”

Louise recently worked with artist Linder Sterling on her flag and film project for The Glasgow Women’s Library. Louise’s costumes were featured in the specially commissioned film ‘Bower of Bliss’. “I have learned and grown in knowledge and creatively working with both these entities.”

Her current project entails creating new pieces for women with her fabric designs for a Savile Row tailor, a first for this business.

Model wearing Louise Gray Designs

She also believes passionately in the social impact of design. “It changes perspectives and opinions, and most of all it gives us beauty. We need truth and beauty, now more than ever in our world in all levels. Design is useful as well as optimistic, all of these things are needed in abundance.”

We are delighted to welcome Louise Gray as a V&A Dundee Design Champion, recognising her uniquely creative style and collaborations that celebrate creativity and individuality.

To find out more, visit Louise’s website.

The V&A Dundee Design Champions are inspirational designers creating high-quality work and helping to enhance people’s lives, or champions of the power of design to improve the world.

We will announce 50 Design Champions in the run-up to the museum opening on Saturday 15 September 2018.

#VADchampions

V&A Dundee’s Design Champions project is working with Dezeen as its media partner.

Dezeen is the world’s most popular and influential architecture and design magazine, with an audience of 2.5 million unique visitors each month.

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