Isabelle introduces lingerie designed for people with restricted mobility

Final year BA (Hons) Fashion Management with Marketing student, Isabelle Simpson, has recently completed her final major project working with lingerie brand, Boux Avenue, focusing on creating a lingerie brand for people with restricted mobility, that is functional and empowering.

We caught up with Isabelle to find out more about the project, and how Boux Avenue became involved:

Hi Isabelle, tell us where the idea for your project came from:

My inspiration came from watching my younger brother grow up with a learning disability and the day-to-day challenges that he faced. This has always made me wonder about independence for girls and young women with disabilities, so when it came to thinking of an FMP idea this was something that I wanted to investigate.

How did Boux Avenue become involved in the project and what have the outcomes been?

Boux Avenue became involved when my lecturer Claire spoke to Emily Furzer (Head of Chairman’s Private Office at the Theo Paphitis Retail Group Limited). I've now had two meetings with the team at Boux Avenue which have been so helpful for my project. 

The outcomes of this project have been to create an accessible range of lingerie for Lounge Underwear, with recommendations for how this can be integrated into all mainstream lingerie brands in the future.

What has been the best thing about studying at Solent?

One of the best things about Solent for me has been the industry input. We have worked on so many projects alongside industry experts and I feel that this has given us such a valuable insight into how industry processes work outside of a university assignment.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I have already landed a Buying Admin Assistant job role at Bravissimo! I have started this one day a week to begin with and then once I graduate it will be full time.

Claire Riches, BA (Hons) Fashion Management with Marketing lecturer, said of the project “Final Major Projects are an amazing opportunity for our students to showcase all of the skills they have learnt across their degree. It is always great to see the variety of topics they choose to explore and the innovative and creative solutions they develop. Isabelle’s project is impressive for her empathic focus on accessibility and inclusive approach that has considered and involved her target customer. Her final lingerie range and collection that is not only functional and accessible but also pretty and feminine, allowing her customer to feel confident, independent and empowered, which is exactly what she out to achieve.”

Rachel Harley (Chief Merchandise and Buying Officer, Boux Avenue), and Zoe Price-Smith (Brand and Product Design Director, Boux Avenue), said of the project: “Isabelle has executed a brilliant project, showcasing a customer centric approach by providing innovative solutions to a gap in the market. Having undertaken extensive research, she has thought through her ideas from the design, the fit, the manufacturing, the range plan, the commercials, and how to execute and deliver this to meet the customer’s needs. A thorough 360-degree approach considering her business proposition end to end. We have been really impressed with Isabelle's professionalism and we hope to see her project being brought to life!”

Feeling inspired? Discover BA (Hons) Fashion Management with Marketing