“A lot of people think that a fashion course is sitting there drawing pretty dresses, being an air head – but it’s not true, there is so much theory and context. You can’t just design something that you have seen in a shop that looks pretty, if it’s in a shop it’s already out of fashion – you have to always be thinking ahead.” commented Stacey Bartley, third year student on the BA Fashion at Leeds College of Art & Design. Stacey’s work is inspired by people and society; she describes her practice as “life based, about social connections and the relationships people create with each other”. Stacey is currently writing her dissertation on ‘The relationship between crime and fashion - has the knife become the latest fashion accessory?’. Stacey benefited from an internal progression agreement which supported her in moving on from the National Diploma in Fashion to the Degree course at Leeds College of Art & Design. Preparing for the BA Fashion end of year fashion show, Stacey stated “now is the time for me to put everything I have ever learnt into practice to get the best possible outcome”

Whilst doing her GCSEs Stacey decided that although she wanted to continue her education, school wasn’t the best route for her. Having always enjoyed textiles and art she attended an open day at Leeds College of Art & Design before making a successful application to the National Diploma in Fashion, Clothing and Textiles.

Stacey made the transition from school to the first year of the National Diploma course without any major barriers to learning, stating, “I loved being at Art College it was great to study in a place where everyone has similar interests - there is a really creative environment.”

At the end of her first year Stacey discovered that she was pregnant. She returned to college before enrolment to discuss her options with her tutors and student advice. She was given the option to take time out from her studies but decided not to take a break “I was afraid that if I took a year out I wouldn’t go back” said Stacey. Stacey’s tutor Mike Jackson described her as “a very positive student”

With the support of her family, Stacey continued onto the second year of her National Diploma, taking off only three weeks in February when her son Finley was born. At times Stacey found combining life as a young mother with full time study difficult, saying it was as if she was leading “two totally separate lives”. She felt however, that Leeds College of Art & Design were supportive and believes she wouldn’t have done as well in a school sixth form.

Before her pregnancy Stacey had doubts about doing a degree but having a child altered Stacey’s aspirations. “My situation changed and I thought that doing a BA would be the best plan as I wanted to have something solid behind me to be able to provide for myself and Finley - The better I do for myself the better I do for him”

Stacey has responded well to the business side of her degree. She plans to set up her own enterprise owning a boutique after graduating.
Now in her final year she is determined to make a success of her studies, saying, “I’ll be happy knowing that I’ve given 100% I don’t want to look back and think I could have done better”