Making the case for inclusive clothing on the high street

Her winning project, WEEKDAY: Flexibly You, was inspired by her own observations of friends and family navigating a fashion industry that too often fails to meet their needs.

"As a woman in my twenties, I have observed the challenges faced by both friends and family in finding clothing that not only feels comfortable but also aligns with their personal style as well as functional needs," Tierney says.

"Too often, these individuals feel they must compromise on their personal expression when it comes to fashion. They frequently have to turn to clothing designed specifically for their unique requirements, only to find that these options appear overly medicalised or lacking aesthetic appeal."

The project used Weekday as a case study to explore what a truly inclusive mainstream fashion offering could look like. Blending functionality and style without forcing wearers to choose between the two.

For Tierney, presenting her work at Graduate Fashion Week, including a live project pitch screened in the event's cinema space, was a significant milestone. "It was quite rewarding to have an audience sit there and listen to what my work was about and being able to speak to them directly about it," she says.

Reflecting on her time at Solent, Tierney says university helped her develop skills she feels confident taking into her career. "I feel a lot more ready for the industry ahead of me than I was before starting university," she says. "University has really helped me build on skills such as presenting, time management, and working within teams and specific time frames."

Tianey was one of 13 Solent students shortlisted across 17 nominations at GFW26, with nominations spanning fashion photography, moving image, styling, marketing and inclusive design. She was also shortlisted for the Inclusive Fashion Award.

BA (Hons) Fashion Management with Marketing at Solent combines creative practice with professional application, preparing students for careers across fashion, retail, marketing and beyond. Find out more here.