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Saturday, October 29, 2016

photography collab

On Tuesday, the F.A.D Fashion Futures finalists teamed up with Speos (Speos Photography Institute) for a photoshoot of our garments! It was sooo much fun. The Speos photography students were absolutely fantastic and the hair stylists and the make up artists were bloody amazing. all together they made the day so stylish, fun, and produced some amazing photos.


visual reference/mood board i created for tone/vibe of shoot

I sneaked a few pictures on my phone too haha, can't wait to share the finalised photos with you guys!
It was so weird/amazing to see my jumpsuit actually being worn for a photoshoot. I'm still used to just making stuff for textiles then "forgetting" it at the back of my wardrobe. But I've sort of learnt to appreciate what I create. it's important to treasure and be proud of  art all the time because seriously, that creating shit is hard. I'd also never been to a photography studio before this which was really cool! big big love F.A.D & Speos

My jumpsuit, modelled by Kat



The studio!!


thnx 4 reading, see you soon! xox

Monday, October 17, 2016


phenomena: a beginner's guide to love and physics












(All pictures taken from Tumblr.com)


hey lovelies
I'm gonna do a lil' bit of advertising here 1 sec.
You might want to click on this link here which will direct you to SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS's crowdfunder page for our upcoming tour!!!! I'm part of SLC, a free theatre company of 20 teens from London who specialise in making a mess on stage and leaving behind a trail of chaos. We've been selected as one of four companies across UK and Europe to perform at this years Chrysalis festival in Edinburgh!!! The Chrysalis festival showcases emerging talents and acts as a platform for young performers to establish a presence in theatre. #ChrysalisFest


The show we're touring, 'Phenomena', is our own exploration of Love through physics. We follow the laws of science and our own experiences to find out what love actually is. (if you need to brush up on your science and romantic knowledge i would highly recommend this show.) Check out our website here.

I joined SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS a couple of years ago and it has blossomed into something much bigger than just a lil' youth theatre group that meets weekly to perform shows for our friends and family. It's a creative space where your thoughts, opinions, experiences and ideas that you want to share matter. We ignore the negative stigmas attached to "youth theatre" and explore subjects that go beyond people's expectations of what young people have or want to say. Since being in SLC, I have learned more about myself, and my willingness to share and practice creative work. Being around a range of different people from various backgrounds, of different ages and different genders etc. is what makes our creative process so interesting and valuable.

Doing theatre isn't just about standing on stage reciting a monologue from Shakespeare or running around in wigs and cloaks (not promising anything). No, theatre is about what goes on behind the stage. about the bits before we even get to the stage.
the buzz. the ambiance.                                                                                                                          

I have to say, nothing feels quite as thrilling as being back stage, waiting for the lights to dim and hearing the audience come to a hush. before SLC I never really thought about 'acting' or what it really took as a performer. It has shown me that theatre really isn't as clean cut as just 'acting', it's more like performing. just...performing. And in that way it is one of the most flexible, undefinable arts to me.

So watch this space as we casually spread some chaos over the city. Next stop Edinburgh!!! 

Cleo xx

Sunday, October 16, 2016

kinky hair blues


Last week I went to help out F.A.D at their stall for their new project 'Thirteen Black Icons'. We were placed at Alexandra Palace - as part of the Knitting and Stitching Show. ahh it was so amazing!!
Even the stall itself was beaut, lined and decorated with all the mesmerising photography and Kanga cloths. So, 13 Black Icons is a F.A.D initiative and magazine celebrating the inspirational stories of thirteen black icons of the British Jazz Age in the 1920s and 1930s.


I just had to do a blog post about this because it studied something close to my heart: jazz.
Reading the magazine and learning about these stories was so enlightening. The artists were specifically chosen because their stories are not known by many, certainly not by those of this generation (I hardly knew any of the icons sadly). Their activism and talents and ideas need to be known because Black British people had a presence in Britain PRE Windrush in 1948. And it can be seen and felt within this period and always will be.

============= 2 faves: =============

Reginald Foresythe 1907-1958
Musician & Composer

was an incredible talent and eccentric. He grew up in Shepherd's Bush with a Sierra Leonean father and British mother. Reginald began playing the piano at aged 8 and spent his spare time composing bold new jazz pieces. Reginald assembled a band to record his compositions and many of the jazz greats of the era played his pieces.

Although he never achieved fame, he left a huge back catalogue of music and was influential in creating the syncopated sound of the 20s and 30s. 'Bit' is one of my favourites of his.

Una Marson 1905-1956
Poet, Playwright, Broadcaster & Activist

Una was born in rural Jamaica. She rose to be Jamaica's first female editor and publisher of her own magazine. She also wrote poems and plays that focused on politics and advocated feminism. Una moved to London in 1932 to find a wider audience for her work and by the end of the 1930s, had been noticed by the BBC and became their first black radio producer. She continued pursuing writing and activism in London and Jamaica until her death.

'Cinema Eyes' 1937 and 'Kinky Hair Blues' 1937 (poetry) are my absolute favourites. really really powerful words.

In 'Cinema Eyes' the narrator tries protect her daughter from obtaining a "cinema mind" under the influence of white supremacy which "saw no beauty in black faces". 'Kinky Hair Blues' reveals black hair politics and the way in which black women wanted to alter their appearance.

snippet from 'Cinema Eyes'

"I saw no beauty in black faces.

The tender light and beauty 

Of their eyes I did not see;

The mellow music of their voice,

The stateliness of their walk.

The tenderness of their hearts

No, they were black

And therefore had no virtue". 


snippet from 'Kinky Hair Blues'

"I hate dat iron hair

And dat bleaching skin

Hate dat iron hair

And dat bleaching skin

But I'll be alone

If I don't fall in"

read the full poems here

thanks for reading guys, c u next time xx

Sunday, October 9, 2016

I wake up in a haze // visual dump

greetings loved ones & welcome October. October is one of my favourite months by the way - just to gear you up for that. Also, it's the actual beginning of autumn!! so here's an autumn play list and mood board for you too...


mood-board and play list created & edited by me, all photos taken from Tumblr.com

<<   sending out good vibes   >>  and I hope this month is good to y'all! On Friday I went to help out F.A.D with their project called '13 Black Icons' at Alexandra Palace. it was so much fun!!! In short, the project celebrated thirteen black icons of the British Jazz Age + lots more. can't wait to share it with you guys so stay tuned! 
also, I'll be uploading some photography of my own later! just experimenting, and soon, hopefully there will be more and more photo projects. <33 see you later!!!