PHOSPHORESCENCE is a collection I created for my Atelier Project during my semester abroad at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). The collection is about creation as a method of removing myself from the place I was in at the time. It is my response to the isolation I felt in quarantine as I mourned the loss of experiences I was supposed to have on exchange in Amsterdam.
A key influence for my collection was Matisse’s work series “The Cutouts,’ in which he uses fluid and organic lines, bright, eye-catching colours and natural silhouettes and shapes, all of which feature in my garments.
I took a specialisation in Knit, in which I explored the work of knit designer Hope Macaulay. She is known for her use of big, bright, chunky knits and I explored the playful, childish nature of her designs, as well as her use of scale through the knit pieces in my collection.
I also pursued a specialisation in Craft, which allowed me to explore the traditional English Smocking technique. I experimented by combining it with painted graphics as well as with the scale and structure of both the pleating and embroidery and in the end, produced several high-quality pieces using this technique.
Photographer: Kelly Lim
Models: Ruth Hazell & Catherine Authors