Jen Groundwater "Laid Belle"

Jen Groundwater has just completed her Masters Degree at Glasgow School of Art, she is the second person ever, in the history of the course to choose to do solely accessories.

When I first met her, she confessed that although she knew it was a risky strategy, the only time she felt nervous about her decision was when her fellow students started to accessorise their collections, just before show time! These are some pictures from the show.

Look closely and you'll see the laser cut-outs are of little Eiffel Towers.

Jen won the won the Gillian Purvis travel award in 3rd year and used the £500 prise money towards a research trip to Europe. As she can't yet drive, her boyfriend drove them both around Europe in a campervan.

"We visited Alsace in France, Switzerland, Austria, Bavaria, Italy, Lichtenstein and Belgium. It was amazing to visit the countries that the embroidery I love so much came from. It was an experience of a lifetime and I would never have had a fourth year degree show without it."

"All my scarves depicted scenes from my trip, very much like the embroidery I saw. Traditional embroidery usually consists of motifs of their everyday life and objects around them".

Emeli Sande who sings "Diamond Rings" with Chipmunk wearing one of Jen's scarves at the MOBO Awards this year.

Some of Jen's collection at Che Camille

'Strangely beautiful' indeed. This piece above is lots of necklaces joined together and reminds me of when I worked with the stylist Bill Mullen who always had elaborate chains of punky black safety pins trailing from his belt loops - actually I'd love to see Jen's neckpieces on a man, long black tunic T shirt, black jeans, Doc Martins.......... just me?

Xtina from LVB Modelling Agency wearing one of Jen's jackets, photo by Life in Frame

A few weeks ago, hair architect, yes "architect" Charlie Le Mindu showed this Eiffel Tower on the catwalk.

L'air du temps?

Jen herself is very chatty, so chatty in fact that she told me all about her plans for the follow-on collection, but has asked that I keep it under wraps for now. I'm sure I'm allowed to tell you that the pieces will be more 'wearable'. They actually sound right up my abbey, maybe she'll give me an exclusive...

Jen's work recently appeared on the front cover of Scotland on Sunday's 'Spectrum' magazine and she's just been invited to showcase her collection at the Scottish Style Awards in the New Talent Show.

She'll also have a site up soon!

jengroundwater@hotmail.co.uk