Abstract |
Fashion has historically reflected culture and society, but the modern day structure has failed to respond to its responsibilities, opportunities, and larger societal needs. Instead of shaping society positively and progressing effectively, the industry is thrashing to meet impossible demands. Thoughtless consumption has set a standard where consumers have all the choices in the world with none of the consequences, and where quality and integrity have been replaced by an insatiable need to sell. Instead, those consequences fall on the environment and human infrastructures desperately trying to support themselves and the industry. In my senior design collection, I decided to approach the problem through storytelling, in hopes of promoting a more conscious style of consumption. My inspiration came from my own storytelling idol, Bob Dylan, who wove together past experiences, elaborate characters, and social messages to write music that would transform the twentieth century. By using reclaimed materials, natural dyes, knitting, and historical repair techniques, I’ve made clothing that tells stories of material and emotional pasts. My creative research was accompanied by an independent study on sustainability and consumption, where my literature choices and case studies informed my design choices. The result is a collection designed to be loved and lived in, backed with research and industry experience. My collection has been chosen by the Fashion School to be shown in Beijing at China Fashion Week in late March, where I hope to increase awareness on an international scale.
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Modified Abstract |
Fashion has historically reflected culture and society, but the modern day structure has failed to respond to its responsibilities, opportunities, and societal needs. Thoughtless consumption sets a standard where consumers have every choice but the consequences fall on the environment and human infrastructures desperately trying to support the industry. In my senior collection, I approached the problem through storytelling, hoping to promote a conscious style of consumption. My inspiration was my storytelling idol, Bob Dylan, who wove past experiences, elaborate characters, and social messages to transform the twentieth century. By using reclaimed materials, natural dyes, knitting, and historical repair techniques, I’ve made clothing that tells stories of material and emotional pasts. In an independent study I used my design choices to inform my research choices.
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I will bring my design sketchbook, fabric samples, and a dress form to display clothing on.