I chose to work in the focus area of textile arts as I find using the body as a canvas for artistic expression interesting. Textile arts is a highly decorative artform, focussing on creative expression and dismissing the constraints of function and practicality. I interpreted this in a literal sense with this design, using the fabric of the corset and mini skirt as a frame to exhibit the art of Jean-Honoré Fragonard. This 18th century artist’s most famous and recognisable work titled “The Swing” is showcased in my design. The artwork is printed on artist canvas, which I sewed into the garment, a medium not often used in clothing. I found it interesting to experiment with this medium and it worked extremely well to communicate the idea of wearable art. I initially planned on using sublimation printing to print onto polyester, but the quality of the image was not communicated well enough, and the texture of the polyester fabric wasn’t very authentic to the 18th century aesthetic I was trying to honour. I found that the only way to do the artwork justice was to print it onto a traditional artist medium like canvas. I chose to call this work “Framed in Fabric” as whilst this may be an unconventional way to display an artwork, Fragonard’s work shines in the fabric frame of my design. I have always been inspired by designers who incorporate historical garments and reimagine them in a modern context, so I chose to explore how the corset could be used unconventionally in my design. I decided to lace up the sides of the corset rather than the front or back to add an interesting design feature. I continued this feature down to the mini-skirt which also lace up the sides. I incorporated a lot of bows and trims into this design as I wanted to give the garment the sickly-sweet, frivolous feel that 18th century French fashion had. As there was no existing pattern for this design, I had to modify existing patterns and create entirely new ones to bring my design to life. This challenged me, but allowed me to hone in on my skills when working with patterns. Overall, designing this piece gave me the opportunity to not only showcase beautiful art, but to explore my own creative process, producing a design I truly love and am proud of.
