Aura's & Affirmations
Category: Apparel
Competitions: UK, International
My collection was inspired by spirituality, it’s something that not only intrigues me but leaves me questioning. This concept led me to think how embracing spirituality could give us the potential to become a higher version of ourselves. Throughout the collection I have laser cut and foil printed leather, this is something which was important to me when creating my final collection, to create interest within the leather and what it represents. Using leather throughout the range was crucial to create a contrast of materials and showcase the luxury of leather. After visiting a clairvoyant in 2022 and having a reading, it soon unleashed a desire to explore more about spirituality. Being told the colours of my aura left me questioning the way we change, how our auras grow with us and how an individual’s aura represents them in day-to-day life. Angel numbers have become a popular yet overlooked spiritual practice within modern society. Seeing repetition of numbers, is it a coincidence or a sign? While researching my final collection, I repeatedly saw the angel number 333 “your spirit guides are sending you love, support and guidance”. I took this as a sign and used it to influence my final collection. This womenswear collection includes flare, flounce, and femininity, the collection focuses on large, soft silhouettes being drawn in by a support. Leather is used to add structure and support, representing the angel number 333, layered on to delicate fabrics with the silhouette resembling an aura. Silhouette and detail was my main focus when designing this collection. I explored different methods to create a hidden message within the collection. Adding excitement through detail was something extremely important to me which led to each outfit in the collection having intricate detailing from print, to stitching, to laser cutting. The laser cutting design was about joining the 3’s intricately so that at first glance the viewer couldn’t necessarily see the 3’s design until looking closer, despite the fact this design was cut into a firm leather and represented support, the design added delicacy to the leather. The print design I created was to represent scattered angel numbers and mirror the way we naturally see them throughout day-to-day life. The silhouettes within this collection have a hidden message of repetition throughout, the layers for each garment are built upon the rule of 3. This not only represents angel numbers but helped create a large, soft silhouette mirroring the aura of the wearer. My submission is original because despite the fact laser cut leather has been done before, I want to challenge the structure not only of the garment overall but within the garment, by challenging the boundaries of delicacy within this piece of work. How much can be removed while keeping the design intact? How much flare can be added to the sleeves to create a soft shape yet keep a defined silhouette? I chose a delicate design to create a juxtaposition challenging how veg tan is usually perceived (firm and rigid) and portray an intricate design to a firm veg tan leather which subverts the general representation of the leather. My design is innovative to me, as working with computer aided design was new and exciting and has created a flare and desire to learn what else could be done combining leather and technology. I think this idea could go so much further, changing patterns and designs within other software, making it a digital accessory, learning how to combine this with new design programmes like CLO3D. My garment will not only last, but be loved for a lifetime because of the natural beauty vegetable tanned leather has, it will wear and age over time creating a unique finish, which will grow with the wearer.
