"For the past five years, i-D have teamed up with All Walks -- an award-winning charity campaigning for the celebration of diverse body and beauty ideals in fashion -- in order to present the best student work entered into their annual competition Diversity NOW!. The competition asks fashion students to present their vision of a future where diverse representation is the norm, and people of all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities, genders and abilities are celebrated in a high fashion context. It's up to you, i-D's discerning readers, to select the coveted People's Choice award, through a public vote hosted below."
Hominum AW"17
This project aims to focus on diversity within fashion and promotes equality no matter what race, age or size. I have created a garment that symbolizes equality. It is designed to be worn by anyone. I approached the issues by researching perceptions of discrimination and explored fashion concepts that had the potential to express inclusivity and individuality. My response is a non-gendered garment that can be worn as a creative expression of the individual.
Neoprene scuba fabric with a black surface and white foam was selected to construct the garment from as it is stable with a stiffness and stretch. I combined it with different design detail to resemble the individual as a warrior thus representing the inner strength of the wearer rather than the superficial outward appearance. The Sleeve I designed with gaps supported by a strap and a round metal bar. Creating this space on the sleeve will show individual skin tones expressing diversity and the sense of the individual.
To highlight the concept models that encompassed diversity were selected for the photoshoot. This diverse mix of people embraced the sense of the individual and their strength that had become the focus of the design process. Each model has a different colour of paint on their faces which corresponds to the colour of their national flags. It was important to the project that the garment expressed all walks of life with an image that encompasses the internationalization and diversity of contemporary culture.
ARTS THREAD partner with All Walks Beyond the Catwalk for Diversity NOW!