GRANS might not seem like an obvious inspiration for fashion.
But designer Flora McFarlane said it was her two Glasgow grannies that spurred on a love for clothes.
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The designer loves traditional materials
She spent summers in Glasgow with her grandparents visiting museums
The 23-year-old School of Art graduate spent summers with her nans, who were both very different but also both very stylish ladies.
One, Elaine Mcfarlane, formerly a secretary at House of Fraser, was all about the 80s bling, never without her jewellery. While the other, Jane Anderson, was a sculptor who loved 50s style.
Now she is about to send a series of looks down the catwalk at a special show, dedicated to the city that cemented her passion for fashion.
Flora, based in Glasgow’s south side, said: “I spent every summer holiday as a child in Scotland with them, and they couldn’t have been more different.
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Flora’s artist gran Jane Anderson, top middle, was a 50s icon
And the designer’s other gran, Elaine Mcfarlane, loved 80s style
“One was pure 1980s glamour, always getting her hair and nails done. The other was very 1950s in style, a sculptress with a more understated, artistic elegance.
“Both of them let me rummage through their wardrobes, trying on their clothes and jewellery. Those moments sparked my lifelong appreciation for fashion.
She added: “They’re kind of, for me, the representations of two different Glasgow gals.”
Flora originally planned to go into costume design but applied for Glasgow School of Art so she could visit gran Jane.
Flora’s looks will walk the catwalk at a very special show
The museum will be turned into a catwalk for the event
She said: “I came for the interview and to be honest with you, you know when you know the feeling that I needed to be here? It just felt right.
“They taught me how to knit and all the sort of heritage crafts of tailoring.”
And her grans have inspired the clothes she now makes, with lots of knits, lace and traditional crafts brought right up to date.
The designer said: “That really does feed into my designs. One was really classical and one loved her bling. One taught me how to sew whereas the other one taught me how to shop.”
Flora added: “I’d like to say my designs are modern timelessness.
“My modern taste is classic Scottish textiles adapted to the modern audience. For example, I created a gold knit dress for my graduate collection which was inspired by James Bond‘s Goldfinger. It was completely made using heritage crafts but made wearable.”
In one of her biggest challenges to date, Flora has created a whole collection based on the Burrell Collection, a place she used to visit with her grandparents as a child.
The museum will host its first fashion show on Saturday with Return to the Garden, a 28-look collection inspired by the 9,000 treasures within.
After she graduated in 2024, and was working in the knitwear industry, Flora needed a project and decided the Burrell was the perfect inspiration for fashion.
Flora said: “One thing led to another and this project grew and grew. There are more than 9,000 objects from around the world from different centuries at the Burrell and I thought I’m just going to tell my own narrative from it.
“What we really want to get from the project is not only my generation going to the museum, but showing that everyone can take so much inspiration from one gallery.
“I’ve got 26 models and more than half of them have never been before. It’s the most warm inviting place – and it’s free to visit.”
Flora would love to dress actress Margot Robbie Credit: Getty Images
Another style icon the designer loves is singer Charli XCX Credit: Getty Images
Over the next year, Flora will deliver workshops in schools and an exhibition will follow in March 2027, opening the designer’s creative journey to young people.
Juliet Fellows-Smith, Museum Manager of the Burrell Collection, added: “Flora’s fashion offers an innovative, insightful interpretation of our world-class collection, and we are excited to see people’s reactions.
“What makes it so exciting is that it shows young people they can create real opportunities for themselves here in Glasgow. Flora made a conscious decision to build her career in Scotland, taking inspiration from our collection and working with local makers, rather than feeling she had to go to London or Paris.”
And as for the future, Flora has her sights on dressing some of the world’s most famous women in her designs inspired by her Glasgow grans.
She said: “I love icons like Charli XCX. I think she’s phenomenal or even Margot Robbie – I’d love to design for them.”
- Tickets are still available for the show, on tomorrow night (May 9) at 7pm. Log on to burrellcollection.com for more information