'Hitching Lifts' - Women in The Outdoors
Tess Fontaine
Flicking through an old family photo album, I found a photo of my great nan Josephine with the caption 'tramping' - hitching lifts on long country walks. Jo's relaxed and silly pose stood out from the other stiff looking family portraits. Her love for the outdoors led me on to research 19th century women's hiking/outdoors fashion and it's practical challenges from heavy petticoats to restrictive corsets. As a result, designers began creating modesty modifications, allowing women to upkeep their societal disposition whilst enjoying their outdoor activities. Today, womenswear has the freedom to be flexible and experiment. 'Hitching Lifts' is a nod to the past 'Women of The Outdoors' like Jo, inspired by the layered garments and adapting silhouettes this collection focuses on versatility and wearability.
Tess is a womenswear designer from London, inspired by historical fashion and tradition workwear. Fontaine's designs bring these influences into the present, creating modern pieces that tell stories through silhouette, fabric and detail. With a strong focus on illustration, print and textiles, Tess explores how clothing can carry a narrative - creating pieces that are meaningful and practical.
