White Shirt Project

This project focused on the idea of deconstruction, so we had to make a new garment out of the different parts of a basic button up shirt. This project was completed during the lock down period of the pandemic, which effected us students both physically as we were unable to get fabrics and sewing materials, as well as mentally, as the isolation effected our motivation and creativity. This inspired me to base my concept on the misrepresentation of mental health, both in the media and everyday life. I focused my research on the different layers of mental health and how each layer plays a role in one’s overall well-being. Visually I was inspired by the stereotyped view of mental health that includes padded walls and straight jackets.

DETAIL VIDEO

The main connection between the final garment and the concept is the use of layers. This video shows the close up details of each layer and how they interact with each other. This three layered garment is made completely out of different parts of basic button up shirts (and a couple shoelaces), which were used in unconventional ways to create a garment unlike any simple shirt.

THE LAYERS

PUPPET MASTER

Using the inspiration of the first garment, made out of the basic shirts, we then were instructed to create another garment made from scratch. We could follow a similar design style to the first garment, but were allowed to use different fabrics and expand our concept through the new project of no limitations.

I stuck to the same concept of mental health and all its layers, but enhanced it by adding the idea of puppets. Puppets represent the manipulation and control i wanted to express through my concept. I made an actual marionette for this video which the model was able to control the garment with.