Abbie Smith
(She/Her)
Designing both womenswear and menswear, my work fuses traditional Scottish dress and Highland ceremonial objects with music and subculture, creating narratives that are aesthetically dark and atmospheric, while exploring a deeply personal reconnection with my heritage.
Passionate about materiality, I take a mindful approach to fabric sourcing, primarily using deadstock and second-hand cloth sourced at local markets, reseller platforms and responsible fabric suppliers. Material is never an afterthought; rather, a core component of the design process itself.
Alongside my design practice, I have a strong interest in global fashion systems, textile supply chains, and the social and environmental implications of fibre production.
I now seek opportunities to deepen my practice and knowledge within material-led design, responsible sourcing, and fashion systems, while continuing to develop my visual language and creative direction.
Sword Dance
pas de basque, pas de basque / high cut, high cut, high cut
Sword Dance is a contemporary exploration of Scottish heritage, informed by personal memory, music, and a background in ballet and Highland dance. Drawing on Highland ceremonial traditions and the precision and discipline of dance, the collection reimagines militaristic structures through the dark, atmospheric lens of post-punk and alternative music. The controlled softness of ballet is expressed through fabric, colour, and texture, while the raw physicality of live performance introduces elements of dishevelment, loosening regimented forms. Deadstock and second-hand materials underpin a considered approach to design and making.
Collaborative Works
Sword buttons:
Zeke Thomson (he/him),
3rd year GSA Silversmith & Jewellery
3D wax printed, cast in sterling silver
@participant_7509
Sound Design:
Nickolas Young
Composer
@nickolasyoung_