SASHA CLEGG

Mother Tongue
An exploration and celebration of multicultural identity.

Mother Tongue is a deeply personal collection that embraces and celebrates the complexity of growing up between cultures. As someone who is half Zambian and half English, and who was raised in Scotland, my experience has often involved navigating cultural difference—feeling both connected and disconnected from the environments around me. This project marks a turning point: a celebration of identity, self-acceptance, and pride in who I am.

The collection draws on key influences from my upbringing and cultural heritage. My childhood experience of Highland dancing inspired an exploration of Scottish tartan, reinterpreted through a multicultural lens. I also looked into the subcultures surrounding football hooliganism, focusing on football kits and everyday streetwear from the 1980s to early 2000s—symbols of belonging, rebellion, and identity.

A central element of the collection is the celebration of Black hair—its beauty, versatility, and cultural significance. For me, it represents more than aesthetics; it is a powerful connection to my roots, identity, and community.

Mother Tongue brings together these layered influences to create a body of work that is both autobiographical and outward-looking—a bold expression of hybridity, culture, and pride.