Meet Mia Coco Chambers: the Pornhub-inspired CSM first-year
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @miacocochambers
NAME Mia Coco Chambers
AGE 19
COURSE BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins
LOCATION London, England
STAR SIGN Leo
PET PEEVES People who are disorganised
For any fashion student, walking through the halls of a school like Central Saint Martins is an adventure in itself. The birthplace of designers McQueen, Galliano, Tisci and McCartney, it’s every fashionista’s dream. I mean in all honesty, which one of us hasn’t orgasmed at the thought of studying in a place as famed as this? It’s just so CSM.
However for this year’s cohort, the adventure has felt a little off. Arriving a month later than normal, their grand entrance into CSM was met with a beefed-up security system, mandatory social distancing and restricted access to on-site facilities and resources. Worst of all, the Platform Bar was closed. Indefinitely.
As they embarked on their first project, the annual White Show, things only got worse. Bumbling Prime Minister Boris Johnson led a hopeful 2021 into another national lockdown over the Christmas break. All schools and universities were closed and are still unlikely to reopen before Easter... if even then.
While the fashion industry in all shapes and forms tries to adapt to a global pandemic with an ever-changing array of rules and regulations, I spoke to Mia Coco Chambers, a first-year Womenswear student, about her experience studying online, how Pornhub inspired her designs and the first thing she’s going to do post-Covid.
Jeffrey Thomson: How did you find yourself at CSM?
Mia Coco Chambers: The process of getting in was terrifying. I remember walking into the interview and I shot finger guns and smiled at the teacher. Absolute cringe. After that they saw my work and said, “Wow, we thought these were two people’s portfolios”. Laughing, I replied, “Quantity not quality”. I’m so happy they let that horrible moment slide.
JT: What was the inspiration behind your White Show garment?
MCC: My inspiration was based on the poem Eat me by Patience Agababi. I tried to do my research around the two toxic lovers in the poem: a boyfriend and his girlfriend, who he feeds for pleasure to satisfy his fat fetish. I focus a lot on love being this force-fed, sometimes revolting and unsettling image. I spent hours on Pornhub researching fat fetishism and watching videos of chocolate sauce and whipped cream being rubbed onto bodies. I also looked into Hansel and Gretel. I want my designs to have some theatrical element, like the sugar dust trail leading to the final garment.
Courtesy of @miacocochambers
JT: What has lockdown 3.0 taught you?
MCC: That it’s very important to stay connected and motivated. Without the supportive and competitive atmosphere at CSM, you can feel lost and without a sense of drive. Being indoors doesn't stimulate the mind like when I would go to exhibitions or galleries. It’s important to remember to stay in contact with friends and share your knowledge.
JT: What’s been the hardest thing about studying from home?
MCC: Finding good content for research. I miss being able to touch the library books and just spend a day getting lost and finding inspiration. Online only gives you what you type in the search bar. The space has been hard whilst studying at home too - I miss the large work tables where I can lay all my fabric out and start pattern cutting.
JT: When was the last time you dressed up? What did you wear?
MCC: Last week. I dress up at home and have cocktails to keep my morale high. I wore this red rhinestone bodysuit from Aliexpress which exuded some real Thierry Mugler vibes. I paired it with some white ruched pants from I.AM.GIA.
JT: How would you describe your style?
MCC: A combination of my mixed-race heritage. A lot of traditional Victorian silhouettes and oriental cheongsam-style fitted pieces. Sexy but elegant. I have a lot of crackhead energy (without the crack), so I feel my style replicates that too.
JT: Best thing you’ve overheard at CSM?
MCC: Our tutor Neil running to the head of fashion on the first day saying, “Come look at this Fleshlight bag”.
JT: Worst fashion trend you participated in?
MCC: Wearing Silly Bandz.
JT: Simons or Galliano?
MCC: Galliano.
JT: Miuccia or Donatella?
MCC: Miuccia.
JT: Fashion week IRL or on the URL?
MCC: IRL.
JT: Instagram or TikTok?
MCC: Instagram.
JT: Staying in or going out?
MCC: Going out.
JT: What are you looking forward to in 2021?
MCC: Getting naked on a beach and letting my nipples roast in the sun.
Courtesy of @miacocochambers