If I Ruled The World…
BRIEF
Address a particular imaginative scenario: ‘If I Ruled The World’. Aim to bear all of your creative powers to offer an imaginative rendering of this particular theme. Your written commentary should aim to support your portfolio, to explain how your ideas developed and give the reader some idea of the thinking and process behind your creative approach.
IDEA
Initially I had two ideas for the exhibition – either a film or a fashion project. Having experimented with film in the past, I chose the fashion project. I had many ideas regarding creating a brand to represent the butterfly effect - a theory that one action no matter how small, can create a larger reaction elsewhere. I brainstormed the products I’d create but ,as I was in thought a concept came to me. I thought about how many clothes I’ve been excited to buy in the present but years down the line, I never wear. It dawned on me that I could encapsulate the butterfly effect theory through sustainability. I realised I could re-design, recycle and therefore re-purpose an item not in current use for future use, creating a more sustainable cycle for fashion.
My friend Joshua Gee, a co-founder of the clothing brand Local gifted me a hoodie of his which I could work on, one which he no longer had any use for. I deconstructed the hoodie in order to restructure it with a new cut and silhouette. The hood was also adjusted to allow more space around the neckline. Following the reconstruction, my thoughts developed more into creating artwork across the hoodie, I was inspired by the idea of creating a ‘beautiful mess’ and artisanal clothing techniques such as hand-painting directly onto fabrics. I commissioned my close friend and an artist whose work I am inspired by to create the artwork across the hoodie. On the back of the piece bears an image of a butterfly to represent the butterfly effect theory which was part of my original idea. The idea that one small action, in my case wanting to repurpose an old item, can create a larger impact by creating a more sustainable fashion cycle for clothing.
EXHIBITION INSTALLATION
The concept the installation of my work was simple, I wanted to create a dynamic experience by hanging the piece directly in the centre of my space surrounded by abstractly placed writings of ‘If I Ruled The World’. To me it meant that the audience could physically walk directly through the world in which my piece is created for and experience it first-hand.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My answer to the idea ‘If I Ruled The World’ is simply that I’d emphasise the impact of our individual actions on a future greater than just ourselves. My action was steps anyone could take to encourage a more sustainable fashion industry, personal lifestyle and ultimately planet. Sustainability should always be a core value within our lives. We are blessed to live on a planet with a lot of beauty to it - I believe everyone should preserve that.
Let’s look after what we love.
Creative Direction by Robert Turay
Artwork by Naffie Williams
Hoodie by Local
