UNIVERSITY PORTFOLIO
FINAL MAJOR PROJECT (FMP) AND BURBERRY COMPETITION
CROSSING THE RUBICON - FMP
During my second year I was fortunate enough to be selected for an international exchange semester to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia. The course offered several electives where I was able to explore other areas within fashion besides design. I experienced fashion with a different cultural perspective and acquired new design techniques through their diverse teaching styles. The exchange offered exposure and an insight into international fashion markets. I am incredibly grateful for the many amazing opportunities and experiences I had studying at RMIT and living in a new city across the other side of the world, and not just fashion related ones.
During the end of my semester I travelled to The Great Barrier Reef where I saw the stunning coral reefs first hand. On the diving trip it came to my attention that many of the coral reefs had lost their vibrancy and bright colours due to bleaching. Corals are bright and colourful because of microscopic algae which live within the coral in a mutually beneficial relationship, each helping the other survive. However due to climate change a warming planet means a warming ocean, and a change in water temperature—as little as 2 degrees Fahrenheit—can cause coral to drive out algae in turn bleaching the coral.
During the end of my semester I travelled to The Great Barrier Reef where I saw the stunning coral reefs first hand. On the diving trip it came to my attention that many of the coral reefs had lost their vibrancy and bright colours due to bleaching. Corals are bright and colourful because of microscopic algae which live within the coral in a mutually beneficial relationship, each helping the other survive. However due to climate change a warming planet means a warming ocean, and a change in water temperature—as little as 2 degrees Fahrenheit—can cause coral to drive out algae in turn bleaching the coral.
I wanted to raise awareness of this issue through my final collection. Upon my research into coral bleaching I was inspired by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, an environmentalist, professional underwater photographer and creator of the world's first underwater sculpture park – the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park – and underwater museum. DeCaires Taylor creates dynamic sculptural installations in marine concrete on the ocean floor providing an environment for new corals to grow. This promotes ocean conservation whilst addressing the perils of climate change through the different sculptures and their connotations. My final collection reflects the asymmetry of corals and their irregular shapes, distorting the tailored form with dropped off the shoulder jackets and fluid silhouettes. I developed his underwater artworks into prints and engravings to feature on my chosen fabrics.
|
|