Rayanni Oliveira da Silva

My name is Rayanni Oliveira. I am a Brazilian fashion designer based in Dublin, Ireland, where I have been living for the past five years. I am passionate about creating innovative designs that empower women through technology and sustainability, blending safety systems like RAYDAR’s conductive fabric with modern aesthetics. My goal is to redefine fashion as a force for social change, ensuring every garment fosters confidence, fearless resilience, and encourages community involvement. I have three years experience working as a lead visual merchandiser and assistant buyer in Bruna Fashion House in Espírito Santo, Brazil. I led the visual merchandising work to enhance creative product presentation and customer engagement. Additionally, I assisted in buying decisions by analyzing trends and customer preferences. I trained and supervised staff to ensure high standards of customer service and implemented strategies that improved sales performance and optimized stock management. What inspired me to create this collection was the ongoing reality of violence that women still face today. About a year ago, I began researching statistics and real-life stories of women who experience violence not just in public spaces, but also at work and even in their own homes. The more I learned, the more I felt the need to respond through my work. As a designer, I believe fashion should go beyond aesthetics. It can be a powerful tool for protection, empowerment, and social change. That is why I decided to integrate discreet safety technology directly into the garments, like the RAYDAR button hidden within the design or the use of conductive fabric that connects to an app. These features are intentionally subtle, so only the wearer knows they are there, offering a sense of control and security. This collection is rooted in my strong sense of community and my desire to use fashion to give voice and power to women and others in vulnerable situations. When I began developing this collection, I knew I wanted to incorporate technology in a subtle but effective way to support women's safety. I collaborated with a professional in IT who has experience in coding and electronics. Together, we conducted extensive research to explore how wearable tech could be seamlessly integrated into garments without compromising design or comfort. We went through multiple rounds of prototyping, testing various microchips, conductive fabrics, and triggering mechanisms before finalizing a solution. The process involved both creative experimentation and technical precision, and it was important to me that the result was reliable, functional, and empowering for the wearer. Balancing style, sustainability, and functionality was a challenge, but also a rewarding part of the design process. I focused on using sustainable materials where possible, such as natural fibres like cotton and wool, as well as deadstock fabrics to reduce waste. On the tech side, I made sure to use rechargeable batteries in the wearable devices to minimize environmental impact, and I was mindful about integrating the technology in a way that would not compromise the aesthetic of the garments. It was important to me that the pieces still felt beautiful and empowering to wear, while serving a practical purpose. Wearable technology is set to become a key element in the future of womenswear, particularly when it comes to personal safety. With advancements in smart textiles, colour changing fabrics, and integrated LED systems, the next natural step is to merge security focused technologies into everyday clothing. Fashion has always reflected society’s needs and values, and today, personal safety especially for women remains a pressing global concern. By embedding discreet, functional technology into garments, clothing can empower wearers not only through style but also through protection. The fashion industry must approach wearable technology with both innovation and empathy. This means fostering cross disciplinary collaboration between technology, design, and sociology, and focusing on user centred design. It is not just about adding smart features but about understanding lived experiences and designing meaningful, seamless, and inclusive solutions. When technology becomes an extension of care and protection, fashion can be redefined as a powerful force for change.