Ffian worked in the fashion industry across production and development before returning to study her masters at the Royal College of Art. She is developing her practice in menswear, which centres around cultural and socio-political issues faced with in Wales.
Ffian Jones
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Film
Director : Beni Masiala
Stylist / Art Director : Harris Elliott
Special thanks: Ella Shiraz Defoe-Faissal and Oliver Gabe
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Look 1
Jacquard weave wool crowd coat
'WORK' woven banner
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Look 2
Camo net t-shirt
Button fastening baggy trousers
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Look 3
Crowd screenprint shirt
'Call centres are the coal mines of today' scarf
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Look 4
'GRAFT' knitted banner, made by Megan Sharples
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Look 5
Badge all-over t-shirt
Baggy selvedge jeans
"Let's talk about better things than that" –
Look 6
'HARD WORK' knitted banner
Denim jumpsuit
In her graduate collection, Ffian looks at aspects of work that have changed or possibly been lost altogether over the last forty years in the area of South Wales. By interviewing a series of young men, She questions what role work plays in relation to her own identity and hence forth its effects on the community and wider society.
WORK WORK WORK –
Jacquard weave banner
HARD WORK
'Part of a culture' jacket
'Part of a culture' jacket
'On the Rollers' T-shirt
Button fastening baggy trousers
Badge button t-shirt
Train Engine T-shirt
The one thing that is important to any kind of work is the people. Pre-pandemic, it was very common for people to see and spend time with their colleagues more than any other people in their lives. The “workforce” can often be mistreated or simply overlooked in fashion, but if as an individual you can feel valued and work within a rewarding hard-working team you have the foundations to build upon. Success in fashion does truly rely on teamwork and collaboration but future success will also need transparency and diversity.
My work has and will continue to be rooted in the culture and community I grew up in, the South Wales Valleys. My great grandmother was a dress maker in London and my nan for as long as I can remember has always sewn, knitted, crocheted, quilted…etc I have grown up with an invested respect for craftsmanship and a desire to learn new skills. I believe fashion is fundamentally about people and is created by communities.