Humaira's pattern designs on show

Humaira finds British fashion history new and very interesting

The latest exhibition at BBC Lancashire features work by Humaira Sarwar Mahmood Malik, an overseas student from Lahore.

Humaira is a design student at Blackburn College and has been researching how the British fashion history has influenced her culture.

She draws from her rich and colourful background by using unusual materials and combining them with experimental techniques.

After her degree course she intends to work as a freelance designer.

Humaira says she has enjoyed her studies and the experience of living in the UK as it has given her the ability to experience the culture, history and current art and design scene first hand.

Being a foreign student, Humaira finds British fashion history new and interesting. She is researching further into British fashion history and how it has influenced her culture and how certain British designers take influences from other cultures.

She was very familiar with brand names, but unaware of the designers' backgrounds and fashion history until she moved to England and began her studies.

Vintage lace

Humaira has always been very interested in fashion history and at the same time fascinated by how the designs from the past can still inspire and create a very successful collection.

Humaira enjoys working with various medias and processes

As an enthusiast of designs from the past and after investigating and researching past textiles/fashion and current trends, Humaira has concluded that reproductions are very big business today, and feels she now knows the requirements of today's design industry.

She doesn't limit herself to any one area, as she loves to experiment with new things. By using non-traditional and alternative materials within textiles, she enjoys experimentation and exploration of various medias and processes.

Humaira thinks this alternative approach really fits in with what is happening in surface pattern design at the moment. The possibilities are endless.

Through her work she tries to express herself and develop her style, which has changed through her experience and been challenged by her research.

Historical influence

Her aim within the final year of her studies was to reinvent and create a nostalgic collection by sourcing and manipulating eco-friendly, recycled materials including papers, vintage lace, second hand fabrics and water-based inks. The intent being to explore a sustainable approach to the future that is more about quality and less about disposability.

Recycling fashion is a new way of creating historical influence. Over the last few years, vintage shops have become more popular, with celebrities even wearing designer vintage dresses on the red carpet.

Humaira predicts this trend will only get stronger as the cost of producing clothes, not only in cash but the cost to the environment, will get higher and higher.

Humaira is a graduate of social work from Pakistan but her love of art and design and experience of travelling and seeing wonderful things really re-awakened her desire to be creative. Choosing to become a student in a new country has opened up a whole new future for her.

After her degree course she intends to work as a freelance designer and launch a website before pursuing a career within the design industry.

• Humaira's exhibition runs until Friday 31 July 2009 at BBC Radio Lancashire, Darwen Street, Blackburn, BB2 2EA. Call for opening times on 01254 262411.