After three years of fashion theory, business development units and hand-on garment and textile classes, Curtin University fashion majors showcased their final collections to the public at the annual Fashion Graduate Showcase.
Out of the twenty two fashion students graduating this year, seven were announced as winners in selected categories. See the winning collections and the designer’s statements below.
Curtin Designer Fashion Award winner: Mollory Maduka-Ike for her collection, CHRYSALIS and Tia Tokic for her collection, Bacterium (below)
Designer statement: Metamorphosis is the change from one thing to another, this change happens daily all around us, whether we are aware of it or not. I aim to look specifically at the life cycle of the butterfly in its most profound phase, the CHRYSALIS.
I am inspired to investigate the application of this amazing process on the human form, taking the idea of a human chrysalis, peeling back the layers of us to find what is underneath.
In the chrysalis stage the caterpillar dissolves itself, down to its imaginal discs, which contains cells for each new body part. My intention is to cocoon the body and realize what we could be.
My collection is focused on the re-emergence of the body during our chrysalis. How we rebuild ourselves to be better versions of us.
Curtin Academic Excellence Award Winner: Tia Tokic for her collection, Bacterium
Designer statement: Approximately 100 trillion cells form our human bodies; all of which are susceptible to horrific bacterial diseases. Bacterial infiltration can lead to many varieties of physical and mental illness, ranging from the deadly skin lesions of Anthrax; to the social shame experienced by the victims of Chromoblastomycosis.
The development of micrographs has helped scientists to identify and treat these unfortunate patients. The microscopic photographs of diseased cells show intricate, organic patterns presented in vibrant shades of pink due to the use of Crystal Violet Dye. When separated from their context, these images become beautiful reflections of internal organisms; yet the effects of these mutating cells take a devastating toll on the body.
Most of these diseases have grim aftermaths such as radical proportioning and degradation of limbs, leaving victims as spectacles to the unaffected and uninformed population. The emotional suffering birthed from this isolation leaves individuals questioning their own identity. I have symbolized this loss of self by disguising the natural body; encompassing the wearer entirely as the disease does to its host.
Sericin Silk Design Award Winner: Amie Churak for her collection, Fragmented Reality
Designer statement: Fragmented Reality is inspired by the multifaceted nature of human personality. As individuals we choose the aspects of ourselves that we are prepared to reveal or conceal, often depending on circumstances.
Altering how our lives are perceived; fragmented reality.
Gerber Technology – Accumark Training Award Winner: Jayde Christie for her collection, Imprints
Designer statement: Throughout our lives we leave our mark on the world. We leave impressions; emotional imprints on the minds of others and physical traces on the surfaces that we connect with as part of our journey through life, in particular on the clothes that we wear.
As we travel though life we create strong connections with people exchanging lasting impressions.
The textural and the memory embedded in the fabrics used to symbolically represent the imprints on the earth and the interconnected relationships that we create. Shoes have been created as a part of this collection as a reference to the metaphoric significance of the footprint.
Expresslink Industry Award Winner: Sheona Cowden for her collection, Doe Eyed
Designer statement: This collection reflect the multi-layered process of unveiling inner beauty, a journey of self awareness. The translucent layers of intricately woven organza are a second skin and a slow unfolding of my self-discovery. Hundreds of threads for an open madd, moving and flowing over the face in an attempt to hide from self realisation.
The textiles chosen for this collection are representative of the female form. Woven organza is sheer and allows glimpses of the body underneath whereas the underlying Crepe de Chine silk drapes and clings. These materials complement the body rather than concealing it.
A garment can be seek as a veil of protection or of self-concealment. The multiple layers in these garments partle conceal what is hiding underneath, whether the physical body or the self, creating an expression of inner beauty.
X-Press Fashion Design Award Winner: Maegan Da Silva for her collection, Mystery of the Maya
Designer statement: We can find examples throughout history of the romanticism of past events and occurrences that reflect an awe of past eras and the glorification of a time that is not our own. This distorted perspective we construct based on threads from the past, alters the harsh realities of the time and constructed relevance on today.
The diversity and richness of the Ancient Mayan Society portrays a civilization whose practices were well beyond their years; it is revered for its vast wealth, knowledge and foresight.
This collection aims to depict the romanticism of this history; drawing references from contemporary cultural glorification of the actual happenings to unfold The Mystery of the Maya.
Songy Knox Collection Lookbook Award Winner: Jade Christie for her collection, Imprints and Sheona Cowden for her collection, Doe Eyed (both featured above)
