His End was Peace - Samantha Gillett-Jones Final Major Project
Category: Apparel
Competitions: International
My final major project titled 'His end was peace' explores the stigma surrounding transgender surgeries and the portrayal of it in the media. Looking into how it is often considered 'mutilation' by newspapers and right wing politicians, I used leather as a means to emboss my own floral pattern onto it to contrast the harsh realities of the surgery that is shown through the use of oversized staples and detached pieces held together by lacing with leather thonging. After researching into how I could emboss the leather and seeing that it wasn't possible through traditional means, I created my own embossing plates by using discarded acrylic sheets and laser cutting the patterns into it. This was then put into a printing press along with the soaked leather, once the force was applied the shape stayed, particularly on the veg tanned leather where the unbound tannins help to hold the shape . For the inside of the jacket I used duchess satin. This was the only material i was able to source in the timeframe before my University deadline, however it ideally would have been lined with either a thinner leather or a more sustainable alternative lining option. I look forward to using such materials in future projects. Working with leather throughout my final year has been such a beneficial and enjoyable experience, and I cant wait to see where it takes me next. Thank you so much for your consideration, Samantha GIllett-Jones
