Lizzie Seyi
Study Type: School Leaver Vocational
Study Location: Joseph Wright Centre
Subject Studied: Art and Design
Knitwear design student Lizzy swaps fine art for fashion
Studying Art and Design at Derby College Group helped knitwear design undergraduate Lizzy Seyi discover her true creative direction.
Lizzy, now in her second year at Nottingham Trent University, is also launching her own women’s knitwear retail business, repurposing high-end second-hand knits.
She said: “I’ve always loved art so after leaving school I went straight to Derby College to study level 2 then level 3 art and design.
“The lecturers were lovely and they really helped me discover what my creative processes were. I went there not really knowing exactly what I wanted to do afterwards but the course at Joseph Wright Centre helped me figure out what kind of medium I work best in.”
Lizzy couldn’t knit before starting university, but, at her interview for NTU, it was suggested she take a knitwear degree as so much of her college artwork incorporated textures and fabric.
She added: “I originally had the idea that I enjoyed Fine Art best but I’m now studying Fashion Knitwear at university, which is an entirely different side of art and design. I’ve swapped fine art for fashion!
“Knitting is a whole new way of creating for me. It’s not easy but I really enjoy it and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve learned to knit by hand as well as by machine. The knitting machines are great as you can make really beautiful patterns with them.”
When she’s not studying, Lizzy works as a model – a side line she got into while still at college. A fan of Britain Next Top Model as a teenager, she decided to ‘throw herself out there’ and enter a modelling pageant.
That led to bookings and over the past four years she’s done fashion shoots for well-known brands such as ASOS, Adidas and Italia.
The lecturers were lovely and they really helped me discover what my creative processes were.