Glasgow designer created cost-of-living crisis fashion show

David Black, from the East End, put together his latest collection after experiencing the “worst burnout of his life”.

The "exhausted” 34-year-old was inspired to create “sleep deprived” business outfits to capture how the city is feeling as financial pressures continue to build.

David Black (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

He hosted a catwalk for the looks on Friday at West Brewery in Glasgow Green and spoke to the Glasgow Times before the event.

David said: “The idea for this collection came about after I suffered the worst burnout of my entire life.

“I worked very hard and had just become exhausted, then I noticed everyone around me was feeling the same.

“Everyone has been hit by the cost-of-living crisis including myself, so I decided to use it as inspiration which was like cheap therapy for me.

“The pieces are sleep-deprived businessman vibes, I like to approach these things tongue in cheek because fashion should be fun.

“It is a very serious topic but I think our clothes can reflect how we are feeling.”

David has branded himself Glasgow’s Dr Frankenstein of fashion for his unique and creative design styles.

Growing up he struggled to afford new materials to create his pieces, so he relied on using old damaged clothes which he could upcycle and revamp.

After a lack of funding cost him his teaching job five years ago, he decided to dedicate his life to fashion creating his brand House Of Black.

He has since dressed celebrities and hosted fashion shows by still using mostly second-hand materials for his creations.

David told the Glasgow Times he hopes to inspire others into the fashion industry regardless of their background.

He explained: “I feel like the Dr Frankenstein of fashion because of my design style.

“Creating sustainable pieces started out of necessity for me because I couldn’t afford to spend a lot of money on fabric.

“My parents would give me their old clothes and I would use that material to make clothes and experiment.

“I started to collect damaged clothes as well and go to end-of-the-line charity shops to save stuff from landfill and make new pieces from them.

“I didn’t grow up particularly well off so I had to be creative, now it lets me keep my costs down for customers as well.

“The process feels very natural to me now, I like the challenge of not starting with a clean, plain piece of fabric but instead having to deconstruct clothes.

“I really hope to provide opportunities for others to get into the fashion industry no matter their background, and I am passionate about teaching.”