Natasha Flett’s graduate collection is focused on her parents. Having met each other in the 1980s, they had many adventures together, up until her Dad passed away in 2003. Flett’s Dad has always been kept “alive” for her with the stories shared about him within her family, and she used this project as a way to cement these memories further. Flett wanted to document her parents’ love for travel, particularly their love of America, where they had several holidays over the years, as well as the time they had together living and working in Sheffield, which she too has now grown to love while living and studying in the city.

The areas explored were their work lives, home lives, and their travels. Flett wanted to examine the life they led in Sheffield, what they did and what they wore, and delve into the American dream, more specifically focusing on cowboy attire as she felt there was plenty to explore here.

Flett decided to find a relevant key shape or symbol to run through the outfits, a meaningful design signature that linked everything together, and this came about in the shape of a star. Not only is this an obvious link to the stars in the American flag, but this shape also has personal connotations. After her dad passed away, Flett was gifted a star under his name from her godmother.

It is a unique group of outfits and represents Flett’s parents, and their journeys, throughout each piece.