FOOLS FOR GOLD seeks to undermine the desire for excessiveness in an unbalanced society. The budget cuts to the NHS and the cost-of-living crisis paired with an extravagant £100 million coronation for one man revealed the distasteful divide within those who have power and those who don’t. The frivolous carelessness that puts greed above others and our environment reminded me of the French Revolution and their hunger for change. Research revealed Marie Antoinette’s life within the French Court was unsteady, a pawn married off at fourteen and never trusted by either empire. She took a taste for fashion, partying and gambling, perhaps to secure a position of power. However, for all Marie Antoinette’s complexities, she could never see beyond palace walls, and for the people starving in the street, royal sympathies could only taste like dirt. So they spat it out, and continued marching. The French revolution revealed a larger issue than distasteful monarchs, instead highlighing problematic systematic power imbalances, a theme continued in modern society.
My design process focused on retaliation, however with an endeavour of sustainability. I asked my community if anyone had any old curtains I could repurpose, which ended with several bags of old curtains and deadstock fabric. Thus, forming my venture into upcycling to create exorbitant garments with limited environmental impact. My designs centre on disruption, through looking at 18th century pieces and King Charle’s coronation outfit and seeking ways to unbalance structure and integrity. I combined techniques of fluting and draping to add to the extravagance as bespoken details reflect my desire for slow fashion and craftsmanship. A further detail included burnt jewellery chain to add rusted glamour to these pieces. The six resulting looks are created in sizes 8-16 as a beginning to my journey into creating clothing for all bodies.
MADISON JENNIFER
IF YOU WANT PEACE, YOU’RE PRAYING TO THE WRONG GOD