Fashion Design
Kristina Finlay
Wear and Tear
‘Wear and Tear’ reflects the hegemonic masculinity that’s evident in our society today. To express this concept, I took inspiration from the late American photographer Francesca Woodman, whose short life was a struggle for success and artistic recognition in the male-dominated field. To create this unisex collection, I focused on the breakdown of a traditional man’s suit to represent Woodman’s struggle in the dominant masculine society. Similarly, my use of suiting fabrics mixed with the printed reverse floral fabrics are symbolic of the masculinity and femininity. I achieved my spec by taking a contemporary approach to classical men’s tailoring, using innovative pattern drafting and working on the stand through drawing and deconstructing to portray the turbulent stages of her life. The colour of my collection is a representation of the concept; the dark shades depict the oppression and the lighter shades depict liberation. The tearing and peeling of the layers from the suiting create a sense of escapism along with the printed photographs where the photographer positions herself as ‘too limitless to be contained’. This in turn, coincides with my collection as the late Woodman and her determination to succeed is carried on throughout my collection.
Work Experience: Esther Perbandt – Berlin