FASHION designer Genevieve Devine, whose work appears on runways, magazines and music videos, has credited Dame Allan’s Schools for nurturing her artistic talents.
The now London-based designer from Northumberland said her love of fashion and design was evident at just three-years-old, and her talents were ‘patiently and supportively’ fostered by the school’s art teachers.
Genevieve said: “The old art studio at Dame Allan’s was where I learnt to wind the spool on a sewing machine, and where my talents were nurtured. I was given so many opportunities in ways to be creative, which is hugely important as a child.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the start I was given by my art teachers Mrs Heatherington and Mrs Allonby, who allowed me to experiment, and challenged me creatively. In art it’s important to push boundaries, to make mistakes and to embrace your own style.
After leaving Dame Allan’s in July 2011 with A-Levels in Art, Philosophy, Ethics and Psychology, Genevieve went on to study a foundation in art at Newcastle College, and Fashion Design at Northumbria University, where she won a scholarship prize at Graduate Fashion Week and designed a nine-piece collection for Sainsbury’s clothing range Tu.
She completed an MA in Fashion at world-renowned London art school Central Saint Martins and her collection ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ featured on the Vogue runway at CSM Fashion Week.
A slow fashion designer, who creates sustainable, handmade garments typically from recycled or eco-friendly materials promoting a more ethical lifestyle, Genevieve is establishing her self-titled own label.
Her designs have graced the pages of British and Italian Vogue, Metal, and More or Less magazines, as well as culture, arts and fashion book Document Journal, to name a few. Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Dua Lipa appeared in Vanity Fair magazine styled in a vintage slip by Genevieve.
She said: “I owe so much to those who encouraged my creativity and inspired me in childhood. From my grandma, who would never let anything go to waste and would pass on scraps of fabric and material so I could make things, to Dame Allan’s, which patiently and supportively guided me on my journey to become a fashion designer.”