TOLA MOHIKI

Grey Sheep

Location

stockholm / sweden

University

uca rochester

Graduation year

2012

Contact

Although he started out on the road to becoming a printed textile designer, Tola graduated from Rochester UCA, Kent in 2012 with a degree in Fashion Design.
Having studied for nearly 2 years at Farnham's UCA (University for the Creative Arts) in Surrey, he began to miss the challenge of making clothing from scratch so decided to take a summer course in pattern cutting offered by Central Saint Martins in the hope of putting his textile designs to use, but he quickly found that he still lacked a lot of knowledge in terms of garment construction and so decided to change course and study Fashion Design at Rochester's UCA in Kent where he was able to learn and hone his skills as a designer and maker. He quickly found a passion for tailoring; the hand-crafted element of fashion design has since become very important to him and he values, above all, his construction skills and attention to detail.

Work Experience includes Lu Flux, People Tree, Carnaby Street Tailors, Grace Wales-Bonner, Antonio Berardi and Bordelle.

Latest Collection

Graduate Collection

Traditional Japanese aesthetic theories such as wabi-sabi and shibui were the initial inspiration for the collection. These aesthetic ideals have been largely influenced by Zen Buddhist philosophy. I looked at monastic robes and traditional Japanese workwear. These inspired the silhouette and colour palette.

The collection concept focuses on the hand-crafted element and puts a strong emphasis on the process of creation rather than the final product. It can be seen as an attempt to encourage people to appreciate the finer details of everything around them.
The hand-crafted element is evident throughout. Contemporary industrial methods of manufacturing such as overlocking have been replaced by the more humble pinking shear for example. The hand-made element is embodied also through the textiles. Hand woven organic cotton has been used in shirting as well as a trimming in trousers and jackets
Notions of imperfection as beauty for example and contrasting aesthetics such as smoothness and roughness helped to inspire the textiles.
Satin weave silk and hemp blends with their beautiful slubby yet smooth texture sit alongside soft, delicately textured pure hemp herringbone weaves.