Arts Thread

Charlie Mcmahon
Fashion Textiles BA Hons

Middlesex University

Specialisms: Womenswear / Textiles - Print /

Location: London, United Kingdom

charlie-mcmahon ArtsThread Profile
Middlesex University

Charlie Mcmahon

Charlie Mcmahon ArtsThread Profile

First Name: Charlie

Last Name: Mcmahon

Specialisms: Womenswear / Textiles - Print

Sectors:

My Location: London, United Kingdom

University / College: Middlesex University

Course / Program Title: Fashion Textiles BA Hons

About

My name is Charlie McMahon, and I am a fashion and textile designer, specializing in print design, from the Northeast of England. My work revolves around my experiences growing up in the countryside and taking elements of rural textile practices and bringing them into a high fashion context. My current work is based upon a series of nightmares I had as a child which featured the work of the kitsch artist Vladimir Tretchikoff, more specifically his painting titled “Miss Wong”. This painting hung in my living room when was young and her bright green skin and piercing eyes would deeply unsettle me. For the project I used vivid colours and textiles reminiscent of the English countryside such as Gingham and Tweed and juxtaposing it with intimidatingly over the top couture silhouettes inspired by the work of Cristobal Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. To create print designs for this project I used typical fashion print motifs such as florals and polka dots and printed them in a way in which they swirl and swarm around the body, mimicking the disorientating feeling of being in a nightmare. As I grew older, I have gained an appreciation for the work of Tretchikoff and how he can make people feel varied emotions through paint which is something I wish to do with fabric. As for Miss Wong, my aim was to create a wardrobe for her by imagining what kind of clothes an evil, yet highly glamorous woman would wear in the countryside. 

The Woman of your nightmares

Charlie McMahon is Northern English fashion & textile designer, specialising in print. His work revolves around his experiences growing up in the countryside, taking elements of rural textile practices and bringing them into a high fashion context. His graduate work is based upon a series of childhood nightmares which featured “Miss Wong”, a painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff, unsettled by her piercing eyes and bright green skin. Charlie plays with vivid colours & textiles reminiscent of the English countryside such as Gingham and Tweed, juxtaposing it with intimidating silhouettes inspired by the work of Balenciaga & McQueen. For print he used typical motifs such as florals & polka dots, subverting them in a way in which they swirl and swarm around the body, mimicking the disorientating feeling of being in a nightmare. As for Miss Wong, Charlie presents a wardrobe for her by imagining what kind of clothes an evil, yet highly glamorous woman would wear in the countryside.

we love a man in uniform

Specialisms:

Menswear

a menswear project exploring work uniforms and sexualised clothing. made using 100% upcycled materials

the shoe project

Specialisms:

Footwear

a day long project exploring shoe design. made using 100% upcycled materials