Sophie Wheeler

Black Sheep

chaoticworldofwheeler

Location

york / United Kingdom

University

cambridge school of visual and performing arts

Graduation year

2023

Main Manufacturing Countries

England

Contact

I am a recent fashion design graduate who holds sustainable and ethical fashion very close to my heart. I would love to continue my journey within an environment I truly believe in. During my degree at Cambridge School of Visual and performing arts, I found a passion for knitwear and textiles, along with making clothes that can last a lifetime and can be reworked into something new after they have finished being worn on the body. I contacted mills around the country including John Smedley and Missoni who were very kind and gave me a lot of their waste yarns which I repurposed into a new zero-waste textile. I thoroughly enjoyed working with colours and patterns which I then used to hand tufted my 6 look collection keeping any scraps to create a zero-waste textile, I also use natural dyes, something which I am incredibly passionate about, using local sushi restaurants' waste avocado pits I naturally dyed the linings to my clothes with second hand damaged curtains, creating a beautiful pink colour. I also used both hand-knit and machine-knit to create 6 unique jumpers made entirely from 100% deadstock wool and mohair yarns.
Throughout my studies, I have thoroughly enjoyed creating a textile from scratch and challenging myself each time in the process. I truly value a well-made garment that can last a lifetime and I have become fascinated with details and well-made garments that can be valued without contributing to mass waste.
it is hard to produce more than once due to the deadstock used so every piece is always unique.

Latest Collection

The Dazzle Of Halibut

My collection The Dazzle Of Halibut is based on a character who has become so comfortable within their environment that when they venture outside they decide to wear disguises that camouflage themselves into their surroundings however, the materials they use curtains, carpets, and bedding, from their own home camouflaging themselves within their own home and once they are out they stand out with their flamboyant oversized and exaggerated silhoettes and textures.
My collection has always been on a sustainable path, what started with a plan of only using natural fibres and only using natural ways of achieving colours has been developed into also using up some of the waste left behind by large factories. I have also been sourcing and giving a new life to old curtains and bedding. I have been naturally dying the fabrics with sushi restaurants' waste avocado pits, being one of the worst fruits sustainability-wise, I am giving the pits one last use before they are turned into compost. The carpets are tufted using deadstock yarns from factories and are all hand-sewn together. I have carefully considered both inside and outside of each garment to make every piece as much of a piece of art as possible.