About
I'm Ophelia, I'm a Welsh textile designer based in Cardiff. Specialising in hand embroidery – I refresh and repair preloved clothing . Through embroidery I express myself by using simple stitches, carefully placed, to create images and patterns on garments (establishing an embroidered patchwork style). My contemporary style pays attention to surface, texture and colour, whilst combining traditional and modern techniques.
My desire to learn more about embroidery has already allowed me to experience life-changing opportunities such as, my time living and studying in Shanghai. Taking part in China Creation Camp (a 3-month scholarship focused on Chinese fashion and textiles) had been a truly unique experience, having developed knowledge of the history of Chinese textiles and fashion culture. My trip had greatly inspired the following series of Denim projects (2018-19) of which create different portrait motifs and textures using embroidery.
Through my projects, I hope to inspire environmental and social change – by encouraging people to think about how we buy, re-use and throw away fashion. I believe fashion can be sustainable without compromising style or restricting what you can wear. My projects aim to highlight the environment impacts of the fashion industry, such as the damaging use of water and chemical waste. Using my online platforms I advocate for secondhand and vintage, presenting benefits of swapping, borrowing or renting clothes as opposed to purchasing newly produced clothes. In doing so, bring forward a cycle of repair, re-work and recycle; by demonstrating how old clothing can be reinvented with simple embroidery techniques, inspiring people to alter their wardrobe or a look at home.
Education
BA Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors, Bath Spa University, 2019.
Producer & Narrator
Producer and narrator of the short documentary film 'Moving to Make It'. This follows my dilemma as a Welsh creative, will I leave Wales to pursue my career?
BBC TWO Wales, It's My Shout Productions, 2021.
Watch on iPlayer:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000tlz6/new-voices-from-wales-series-4-2-moving-to-make-it
Exhibit
FOR CARDIFF online exhibit, Creatives of the Capital, 2021.
ARTS THREAD online showcase, Take Back Black Friday, 2019.
The Old Street Gallery, London, 2019.
The Castle Emporium, Cardiff, 2019.
Bath Spa Graduate Exhibit, Bath, 2019.
China Academy of Art Graduate Show, Shanghai, 2018.
Collaboration
Ophelia Dos Santos x Rosie Evans, 2020.
Ophelia Dos Santos x ALIS.KNITS, 2020.
Panellist
FOOTPRINTS Digital Festival: Moving on From Fast Fashion. National Museum Wales, 2021.
Press
'Simple Stitching and Delightful Denim: The Sustainable Works of Ophelia Dos Santos' Santes Dwynen Magazine, 2020.
'Textiles Designer, Ophelia Dos Santos Contribution: Mindful Buying and Up-cycling Your Wardrobe' GUAP Magazine, 2020.
'How to Make Sustainable Fashion Choices Without Compromising Your Style!' Style of the City Magazine, 2020.