SLASH//BURN
Year: 2024
Medium: Fashion Collection and Film
Scope: Concept Development, Collection Development, Project Management, Fashion Design, Patternmaking, Garment Construction, Documentation, Archiving
Medium: Fashion Collection and Film
Scope: Concept Development, Collection Development, Project Management, Fashion Design, Patternmaking, Garment Construction, Documentation, Archiving
Kito: Co-creator
Xaria: Co-creator
Jaruu: Production
Actor: @dande.reece
Model: Senyos
Xaria: Co-creator
Jaruu: Production
Actor: @dande.reece
Model: Senyos
THERE IS RECIPROCAL ACT OF DESTRUCTION
The idea came that instead of doing a runway walk with different outfits, all the outfits could be layered ontop of each other on to one model. Then a masked person will come into view with a blade and start cutting away the layers, freeing the model underneath. As the layers of clothes are removed, five different outfits are revealed, each representing one of the five stages of grief. Removing the layers parallels a transformation through a symbolic death and rebirth.
In the end, the model who was once wrapped in many clothes stands almost naked but free. Destroying the clothing parallels the practice of monks building sand mandalas, beautiful designs made of sand over many days or weeks, only to be blown away when they’re finished. This practice of putting time and effort into creating something and then letting it go is therapeutic and mirrors releasing past trauma during healing.
After the video, the destroyed clothes were gathered and sewn back together with visible seams like scars on the body. This is similar to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is fixed with gold to highlight the cracks. The damage isn’t meant to be hidden because it makes the pieces what they are. These repaired garments were pitched to Arizona Fashion Week as part of their student scholarship and eventually walked the runway.
In the end, the model who was once wrapped in many clothes stands almost naked but free. Destroying the clothing parallels the practice of monks building sand mandalas, beautiful designs made of sand over many days or weeks, only to be blown away when they’re finished. This practice of putting time and effort into creating something and then letting it go is therapeutic and mirrors releasing past trauma during healing.
After the video, the destroyed clothes were gathered and sewn back together with visible seams like scars on the body. This is similar to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is fixed with gold to highlight the cracks. The damage isn’t meant to be hidden because it makes the pieces what they are. These repaired garments were pitched to Arizona Fashion Week as part of their student scholarship and eventually walked the runway.
LAYER 05: DENIAL
LAYER 04: ANGER
LAYER 03: BARGAINING
LAYER 02: DEPRESSION
LAYER 01: ACCEPTANCE
Design Drawings:
To design a collection of outfits that could be worn entirely on top of each other means designing in backwards order. The first look that the audience sees has to be constructed last, and the last look needs to be constructed first. To design this collection each garment from an outfit was drawn and then superimposed onto a figure to make a drawing of an outfit. Then that drawing was copied, and used as a base to draw the next outfit on top of. So each outfit was designed on top of the last one.
The stages of clothes were designed so that the initial stages of grief were dark, oversized, and suffocating, and as the layers are cut off they would reveal lighter stretchier fabrics. This was all in service of the imagery of cutting through layers of black fabric to reveal white underneath. The first layer of denial, the overabundance of clothes becomes intentionally constraining. On the top, the sleeves clasp together backwards, meanwhile the bottom is a tight skirt that bundles the oversized legs together. The very bottom layer representing acceptance is a total contrast, wearing almost nothing besides a pair of boxing shorts and gloves. He’s had almost everything taken away from him, but he is free.
The narrative suggests a cycle of death and rebirth, where the character startes off literally overburdened and constrained, and experiences the pain and pleasure of having those burdens released from from them. In the end through losing everything they become free. Designing a collection like this becomes a puzzle. There are several garments and colorways that you want to include, but everything has to serve the greater narrative and imagery.
Design Development:
Silhouette Sketches
Garment Cards:
Moodboard:
Fabric Sourcing:
Recycling is not optional today. we already have more than enough clothes on earth. It is impossible to create from nothing. For every act of creation, there is a reciprocal act of destruction.
Instead of perpetuating this cycle of destruction, we have to focus on transforming existing fashion. By repurposing what already exists, we can create new expressions of style from the old.