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https://graduateshowcase.arts.ac.uk/projects/260122/cover
This project is an exploration into the school uniform in Kingston, Jamaica. Portraying it as an equalizer to Classism and socio-economic divide, by providing a level playing field, void of external categorization of ones self based on tangible wealth.
While contrasting it to the idea of the uniform as a form of protection, this project seeks to amplify and celebrate the nuances of individuality injected into the uniform. Viewing the idea of “richness” as an internal construct founded in the individuality that one brings to a space of conformity, as opposed to an external object.
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The collection is about questioning and breaking the definition of perfect, correctness and expectation.
It is a journey about rebellion, response and reflection.
My starting point is my personal experience of being “corrected” during my childhood and school years growing up in China. I want to question what is “correct” and “normal” behaviour. There were also very clear regulations to “correct” students’ hairstyle and clothing style in middle school. Chinese society has a stereotyped expected image of a “perfect person”, being a good student at school and having an ideal occupation such as a doctor, lawyer or teacher, which are typical Chinese parents’ expectations. It gave me a feeling that people all grow up in an invisible set mould. That is why I have used the fruit shaping mould as a metaphor for uniformity and conformity. Fruits are unable to grow up freely, nor can they choose the shape they grow into. They have been in the mould from the moment they were born, so they don’t even know what a truly normal and natural fruit looks like. Just like people who want to become a “perfect” person in my society, they are trying so hard to be someone being recognized by people of universal values. However, they will never know who they really are.
https://graduateshowcase.arts.ac.uk/projects/255134/cover
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Hello, pumpkins! X-inderella is an online magazine, as well as a blog, dedicated to all those who love vintage and contemporary fashion, who care about gender identity issues, and who aspire to share their bold voices in a more open environment. Perhaps you were born into a traditional family environment and grew up with strict parents, or were once trapped in sloppy school uniforms and had to cut your hair short at the behest of your school. The past is like a jigsaw puzzle that makes up the person you are now: determined, distinctive, and sassy!
All the articles in the debut issue are made up of interviews with Gen Z artists, who have just embarked on their journey into the fashion industry. They range from freshly graduated jewellery designers who declare “a sincere person with courage is a modern Prometheus challenging the gods”, to ambitious fashion designers who are commercial-wise enough to establish their own labels and even queer stylists who believe ‘‘a woman can be narcissistic, but she cannot be stagnant.” They share the same passion for fashion and the world, all whilst owning sensitive and vulnerable souls inside. This is why X-inderella exists: to gather like-minded people and support each other. You are never alone! So what if life doesn’t have a fairy godmother who can do magic? Self-salvation is a proud ability. Dry your tears, hold on to what you love, and never lose your sincere heart.
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https://graduateshowcase.arts.ac.uk/projects/276320/cover
Exploring the potential of locally sourced materials, handmade processes and traditional crafts to create meaningful pieces.
In this project I explore the opportunities that locally sourced waste presents – specifically its potential within the field of textile and fashion design. Each final artifact is crafted as sustainably as possible, completely chemical free and fabricated by hand wherever possible.
Inspired by the stories of the porters at Billingsgate Fish Market, my work focuses on the importance of preservation, highlighting the little known cultural heritage of under-represented communities that might become all but forgotten within the context of an increasingly globalised society.
Imagining a fish-skin atelier, my first collection consists of a set of tools necessary to treat fish skin and transform it into leather. The resulting garments and final artifacts are inspired by traditional fishermen and fishmongers’ aesthetics and work uniforms.