My name is Morgan Jones and I’m an aspiring Fashion Designer based in Hackney, London. I find myself interested in works that seek to further the language of Fashion Design and as time goes on, I seem to be more and more drawn towards designs that attempt to simplify garments to their core essence. This approach also permeates the Art I enjoy outside of Fashion, how I decorate my flat, how I dress, and how I go about my day.
In this way I suppose I’m a minimalist at heart, though, this isn’t to say minimalism as we have come to know it as an aesthetic code is what solely interests me. Rather, perhaps minimalism to me as I have come to identify it is the search for maximising something’s key element(s) and reducing any noise which distracts from this.
Photo of Morgan Jones © Felicitas Fuchs
Photographer: Felicitas Fuchs | Instagram | Website
It seems to me that in the search for inspiration, it’s good to follow intuition. What is it that you’re naturally interested in? When I first began to design clothes, I thought that I should be inspired by the same sources as the Designers and Artists I most admired. They think it’s great so I should think it’s great, right? Maybe, maybe not… I used to think that what we are naturally drawn to is “too easy”. That can’t count as research for a project it’s just pages from my favourite art book! Yes exactly, that’s the whole point, it’s YOUR favourite Art Book. Start there.
What we have to offer the world as Designers and Artists is our perspective and what may seem obvious and natural to us is novel and interesting to someone else. The truth is the same in reverse. Undoubtedly plenty of challenges will arise throughout the creative journey so why make things difficult when the flow is natural and genuine?
I find people inspiring and I always want to understand their personality, way of life, and relationship to clothing if I am going to design for them. This person could be a specific client for a bespoke piece, a customer representative of a brand’s demographic, or even a fictitious character created as a means of giving focus to an exploratory design process outside of a commercial structure. Syd is such a character.
Syd is a writer from the States who has moved to the UK. Syd loves Fashion and has a keen eye for unique pieces. Every time Syd is in London for meetings with her publishing team she does some clothes shopping. It’s a reward, a treat, a gift from self to self. Syd’s the type of person who gets dressed up every day even if she doesn’t plan on seeing anyone or leaving the house. When Syd’s working at home, writing her next short story or editing one that’s nearing completion, she feels her clothing offers her a sort of armour against the oppressive force of Resistance. Putting on an outfit that she loves is a reliable feel-good factor for Syd.
Syd lives in a 1950’s Bungalow built, decorated, and furnished in the modern style of that era. Very clean lines. A tonal palette. In the present day, it may be tempting to think of this aesthetic as outdated, but I would venture this is because we know it’s 70 or so years old, and this knowledge impedes our ability to see the work clearly. If you can suspend the timeline for a moment, and simply see the work, it’s astounding.
I’m currently designing some garments which I feel would work very well for Syd, and our shared love of the 1950’s Bungalow’s design style has greatly influenced the process. Natural inspiration.
Get in touch with Morgan Jones:
Website: www.morganjonesstudio.com
Email: morganjonesstudio@outlook.com
Insta: @morganjonesstudio