Designing momentum: Megan Trapnell builds Dart & Grey’s next chapter

<p>Since graduating from <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-design">BA (Hons) Fashion Design</a> at Arts University Plymouth, Megan Trapnell has established herself as a creative force in sustainable fashion. Her brand <a href="https://dartandgrey.co.uk/">Dart &amp; Grey</a> made a high-profile debut at the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival through a pilot collaboration with Princess Yachts, repurposing surplus materials from the flagship S80 yacht into handcrafted luxury fashion and accessories.</p>

<p dir="ltr">“Exhibiting my work with Princess Yachts at Cannes Yachting Festival was an incredible experience,” said Megan. “It was exciting to see the new Dart &amp; Grey products inside the new S80 and have the opportunity to speak to attendees, who were enthused not only about the sustainability implications, but also the exclusivity that comes with creating such a limited range of luxury products.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, Megan has moved Dart &amp; Grey into a new phase, launching a capsule collection of limited edition womenswear pieces earlier in the summer. Drawing on locally sourced deadstock from responsible mills, the new collection is designed to reflect Megan’s original passion for garments, creating a clean, versatile range that runs alongside the accessories line.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Alongside the accessories I developed from Princess Yachts’ surplus materials, I’ve created a womenswear collection using locally sourced deadstock,” said Megan. “I collected fabrics from a great place in Totnes called Stone Fabrics. The collection includes a dress, a top, a skirt, trousers and a blazer. All super clean, limited edition pieces that sit alongside the accessories but reflect my original passion for clothing.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Megan is one of several alumni growing creative businesses through <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/alumni/workroom">Workroom Grow</a>, Arts University Plymouth’s creative business incubation programme. Workroom Grow provides alumni with access to facilities, specialist equipment, mentoring, and an entrepreneurial community. Since joining the programme, Megan has been able to build Dart &amp; Grey from a graduate concept into a functioning business, and continues to develop it while making use of studio access and guidance from enterprise mentors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Workroom Grow has been a huge part of this,” Megan said. “It’s allowed me to keep using Arts University Plymouth facilities and stay connected to the creative community here. I’m grateful for every bit of support, I wouldn’t be where I am now without it.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/anna-masclans">Anna Masclans</a>, a fellow Workroom Grow resident and founder of Studio PL1, played a role in helping Megan develop Dart &amp; Grey’s initial sample collection. Together, they navigated the complexities of small-scale, ethical manufacturing, including working with surplus stock, calculating costs, and managing the realities of limited materials.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The fashion industry isn’t built for short-run, deadstock-led production,” Megan explained. “Each material behaves differently and quantities are unpredictable, so you can’t just send it to a big manufacturer. Working with Anna was brilliant. She understood the challenges and helped me to calculate costings, so I could find a price point that’s fair and sustainable.”</p> <p dir="ltr">At the end of June, Dart &amp; Grey hosted a showcase event at RWY Ocean Studios Café in Plymouth. The collection was presented through a small fashion show, with sellable pieces on display. Ahead of the launch, Megan also appeared on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lj33sd"><strong>BBC Radio</strong></a> to discuss the collection, following coverage from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DK6l03iNGYu/"><strong>BBC Devon on Instagram</strong></a> that profiled her work in sustainable fashion.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Dart &amp; Grey has become a collaborative platform for current students. Megan has also worked with four second-year students from<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing"> BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing</a>, creating content, press materials and supporting the brand’s visual storytelling. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Course Leader Dr Kirsty Smith suggested setting a brief for her second-year students to work with Dart &amp; Grey,” Megan said. “It’s been great. I’ve got a little team helping me with press packs and content, and they’re getting credit towards their degree at the same time. It’s a win-win.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The relationship with Princess Yachts also continues to evolve. Since Cannes, the brand has displayed Dart &amp; Grey products at boot Düsseldorf, the world’s largest yacht and watersports show, and conversations are ongoing to formalise a long-term collaboration.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We had amazing feedback after Cannes, and the conversations with Princess have continued,” said Megan. “They’ve given me the green light to keep using surplus materials, and there’s interest from their international clients, which is surreal. We’re in the process of formalising things for the next stage, which would take the project from pilot into a long-term model.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Megan remains focused on building Dart &amp; Grey with intention, combining sustainability, collaboration, and community values into a brand that challenges the expectations of high-end fashion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s exciting, but it’s also a lot of work, from design and production to sourcing components, handling marketing, attending meetings, and so much more,” said Megan. “But I’m really proud of what we’re creating. I want to keep growing the brand and build a studio space one day where I can offer internships and support other graduates. There are so many talented people in Plymouth, we just need the space and structure to bring it together.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Are you ready to shape the future of fashion?<br />Explore creative degrees at Arts University Plymouth:</p><ul><li><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-design">BA (Hons) Fashion Design</a></p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing">BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing</a></p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/alumni/workroom">Workroom Grow</a> — creative business incubation for Arts University Plymouth graduates</p></li></ul> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study">Apply now to begin your journey at Arts University Plymouth </a><br /></p>