As a designer, I have always been interested by the female figure. My work centres around flattering silhouettes that enhance the natural beauty of the woman- often incorporating print, embroidery and other textile techniques to make the clothes just as intriguing as the person wearing them.

We cannot escape the body we’re given.

For my graduate project, Skin and Bones, I reflected upon the fundamentals of human form. This project contrasts the soft, natural silhouette of the body with the harsh structure of medical intervention. It first looks at taking seam lines to recreate body shapes within garments before progressing onto imperfections of the body- in particular how full body braces are used as corrective tools.

Material is key in this project where soft, sheer mesh juxtaposes harsh, restrictive leather; A contrast is present throughout between the natural and the artificial. Both line print and bleach print are featured in the garments. The meccano printed mesh is a custom digital print in response to the resemblance between meccano pieces and body braces, whilst the bleached body print is a hand painted reflection of ageing skin.

Hand-made leather solidifies the structural presence in the collection. Each piece cut, finished and fastened using traditional leather methods resulting in harsh shapes and a powerful structure.