A University of Chester graduate has designed and hand-crafted a fashion range which she has shown to the King.
Emma Rose Atherton, who studied a Master’s of Art in Design course at the university, is one of eight designers chosen by The Prince’s Foundation to create a carbon-neutral womenswear collection inspired by royal gardens.
Her 13-piece, ready-to-wear, luxury capsule collection marks the culmination of a pioneering training programme called Modern Artisan, which she joined in 2021.
It is also the first time Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire have served as the inspiration for a fashion collection.
The gardens are situated next to the King and the Queen Consort’s private residence, and are run by The Prince’s Foundation, so it’s apt that they were used as a muse.
The Princes’ Foundation was formed through the merger of a number of King Charles’ charities back in 2018, while he was still Prince of Wales.
It champions a sustainable approach to life through a variety of education and training programmes, which cater for all ages and backgrounds.
Half of recommended retail price of Emma’s collection is being donated to the foundation, to help support its future courses.
Emma, from the Wirral, now runs her own size-inclusive label, EROSA, which recently won an award at Northern Fashion Week.
The 29-year-old was selected from a competitive global field of students and graduates for a place on The Modern Artisan programme run by The Princes Foundation, and was given the opportunity to present her work to His Majesty (the Prince of Wales at the time) at Dumfries House.
She carefully selected natural and certified materials to create the collection, with more than 50% repurposed from surplus textile production, and made use of circular design principles such as zero waste and data-informed design.
Her garments reflect a commitment to advancing sustainability in luxury fashion and preservation of heritage textile skills.
Each piece is also embedded with a Digital ID, using innovative technology to unlock unique product insights as well as care, repair and resale services.
Emma’s collection was displayed at a public exhibit at Dumfries House in November 2022 alongside a series of talks from project partners about sustainable fashion.
She commented: “I feel so privileged to have been a part of the Modern Artisan.
“I was encouraged to apply by Delphine Wilson, the fashion design programme leader at the University of Chester, and am so proud of everything the team achieved over the 10 months.
“I learned more than I can describe about myself as a designer and maker, and have enjoyed bringing these skills back into my own practice as well as sharing them with Chester students.”