Creating From the South West

When people think of fashion, they think of cities.

London. Paris. Milan.

But fashion doesn’t only exist in capitals.

There is creativity here, in Plymouth, across the South West, in studios tucked between quiet streets, on beaches shaped by wind, and on Dartmoor under heavy skies. There are designers building brands thoughtfully. Stylists refining their eye. Small creative teams producing work that deserves to travel beyond this coastline.

What’s often missing isn’t talent.

It’s visibility.

As a fashion photographer based in Plymouth, I see the potential daily. The landscapes alone offer something different; open beaches, raw coastline, historic architecture, moorland that feels cinematic and expansive. There is room here to create work that feels editorial and experimental, without needing a city skyline to validate it.

And yet, when it comes to building a career in fashion photography, most pathways still point elsewhere.

Organisations such as The Box, Plymouth Culture and Market Hall continue to support artists and creative practitioners in meaningful ways. There is culture here. There is community. There are conversations happening.

But from my perspective as a newly graduated fashion photographer, there remains a visible gap, particularly in fashion image-making at a professional, editorial level.

Many opportunities in fashion photography are concentrated in cities such as London and Manchester. For creatives based in the South West, especially those without established industry connections, the path can feel geographically and financially distant.

After months of applying, searching and reflecting, I had to ask myself a different question:

If the opportunity isn’t here yet, what can I build instead?

Like many graduates, I work multiple jobs. But fashion photography isn’t a side interest, it’s the direction I want my life to move in. And if there is limited visibility of fashion-focused editorial work in Plymouth, then perhaps the answer isn’t to leave immediately, but to contribute to shaping it.

There are designers here. There are independent brands here. There are stylists, makeup artists, filmmakers and creatives building quietly and consistently. What feels less visible is a strong, sustained presence of fashion photography that moves confidently between e-commerce and editorial, between commercial precision and conceptual experimentation.

The South West doesn’t lack aesthetic possibility. It has coastline, texture, space, weather, heritage, contrast. It has an atmosphere that feels distinct from the capital; slower, expansive, raw. That difference shouldn’t be seen as a limitation. It can be a strength.

Building fashion work here doesn’t mean replicating London. It means defining something of our own.

For me, that means collaborating locally, supporting designers and brands, creating editorial projects that push visual boundaries, and helping other young creatives gain experience without feeling they must relocate immediately to participate in the industry they love.

This isn’t about competing with larger cities.

It’s about contribution.

It’s about proving that fashion can exist outside traditional centres, and still be ambitious, professional, and culturally relevant.

Plymouth doesn’t need to compete with London.

It simply needs to be seen.

And I intend to be part of making that happen.