Project research and ideas - I was initially inspired by the effect nuclear radiation had on the genetics of the surrounding animals and people, looking at the victims of chernobyl, hiroshima and nagasaki. From there I looked further at how mutations result in disablities and was inspired to make my aunt the muse of my project in order to show how disabilities do not always need to be seen as a limitation. I view her disability as a contributer to her optimistic personality and created a moodboard that showed how she is not defined by a wheelchair but instead by her love of simple things and her ability to see good in other people. I was also inspired by the work of scientist Neri Oxman and artist Lucy McCrae, focusing on how their work inspires ideas for the future and how we could evolve. I also looked at contemporary designers and brand’s such as AVAVAV with their melting monster shoes as well as graduates from both the Royal Danish Academy and the Swedish School of Textiles.
Design Development - Collages that aim to show the merging of humans with nature, exploring this idea of a second evolution where humans are forced to adapt to new climates and as a result develop genetic mutations.
Design development - draping and knitwear exploration that look at machine kniting techniques such as honeycombing and hand knit experiments that mix fabric from an upcycled childrens dress and upholstary fabric to extend my knowledge by developing a new textile. The drapings explore different structures based of muscle and skin textures, focusing on how they contract and expand.
Design development - Further exploration of the concept of a ‘living garment’ that grows and evolves with us, made of either future bio materials or recycled fabrics this garment has ridges of ‘muscle’ that would move as the garment is worn. Other ideas included a dress that replicates microscopic images of tissue, flesh corsets that use fish or plant leather and a metallic skeleton which would control the nervous system. I also upcycled a knit sweater which I then deconstructed and experimented with different drapes, I explored dismantling the knit into the individual threads as well as what it would look like if it was left to hang naturally on the body. Also included is a materials board that looks at using different materials such as, velvet, organza, chiffoas well as images of skin cells as inspiration.
The final outcome of mutation project - An upcycled knit crop top with ‘lungs’ aims to look as though wearer has veins or capillaries that move as the knit bunches and gathers.and childrens dress that looks at the idea of combining nature and the human body to make the viewer uncomfortable. I want the viewer to feel as though the garment an the model are connected, the piece to appears as if it is a part of the model, with the ‘pods’ climbing up her skin and the fabric hanging loose around her figure, in future I would add a skirt that connects to the top and wraps around the model entirely. This almost skin like effect reinforces an image of the future where humans are morphed with nature and beauty standards that dictate who are able bodied are a thing of the past as everyone has a unique mutation that is celebrated.
Final illustrations for mutation project – my final illustrations explore a series of garments that use future biomaterials made of algae, fish scales, plant fibres etc to enhance rather than sheild a persons disability with the models representing the future humans that are not defined by ability, ethnicity or class and are symbiotic with nature. I was inspired by the innovation fo designers such as Iris Van Herpen, Nicolas Di Felice for Couregges and Stella McCartney, whos designs revolve around developing new sustainable materials and creative ways to integrate technology in fashion. I looked at designs that involve 3D printing, materials that would consist of living organsims that move and grow on the body and different textures/prints such as feathers, metal, knit, faux leather etc.
