About Me:
I am a fashion design lecturer and designer working primarily in the Midlands, after spending many years working in London as both a tutor and creative. After gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear from the London College of Fashion, I then completed a Master’s degree in Fashion Design and a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education at Birmingham City University. I also became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2020.
Prior to my work in education, I worked for a large number of fashion designers and brands such as Amanda Wakeley, Bruce Oldfield, Betty Jackson, Designers at Debenhams (J by Jasper Conran, John Rocha and Red Herring), Jenny Packham, Dorothy Perkins, PAPER London and Be Here & Love. I continue to work in the industry on occasion, and impart this knowledge to numerous students as well as developing work for my own brand through independent projects and collaborations, like my Eco Sewing and Pattern Cutting Tote Bags which are now available to buy on Etsy New projects are always in the works so continue to check back here for updates or follow me on social media on @sianrileystudio on the links below :)
Over the years, my work has been featured in exhibitions, competitions, magazines and blogs (independent digital artwork and Frame 15 Photography Exhibitions; Themes in Bulgakov’s Stories competition winner – winning entry exhibited in the Bulgakov Museum in Kiev; Can U Cut It Competition Regional Winner; The Guardian/ Smudgeflux Competition winner; Advanced Photographers Magazine; Sew Magazine)
As well as teaching academically at a number of universities over the last 9 years, I also teach short courses at MAC Birmingham to both children and adults on a number of subjects, and Pattern Drafting and Adjustment workshops at The Sewing Cafe in Hinckley. Head to the courses page for more information.
If you have any questions, have an interesting project or want to learn more about the courses i offer, please get in touch by email to: studio@sianriley.co.uk
To see my online portfolio, visit: http://www.coroflot.com/sianrileystudio
Follow me on:
Instagram: @sianrileystudio
Facebook: @sianrileystudio
Pinterest: @sianrileystudio
Youtube: @sianrileystudio
*Image from a recent photoshoot featured in Frame 15 Photography Exhibition in Birmingham.
*MA collection photoshoot featured in an article in Advanced Photographers Magazine-November 2014.
*The 'Lost Art of Fashion' Performance Video released on YouTube.
*Featured on Francesca Silva's Blog-designergeneration20.blogspot.it in April 2012 - see http://designergeneration20.blogspot.it/2012/04/sian-riley.html for more details.
*Finalist in the Clotheshow Can U Cut It Competition in 2005.
*Winner of the Education Guardian/ Smudgeflux Contemporary Art Competition in 2003.
*Exhibition of Digital Artwork shown at Hinckley Library.