The textile item is a contemporary and striking two-piece set consisting of a knee length sleeveless dress and a tailored jacket with innovative embellishments. The item references historical, political, and cultural influences across the ages, as well as texture and colours from nature, art and contemporary Australian design. Inspiration also taken from the French designer Christian Dior’s 1950’s couture collections and the Dior signature flower print, lily of the valley; Australian contemporary designer Carla Zampatti, her passion for feminism and particularly her 2022 collections; Japanese designer Shingo Sato’s innovative manipulation of darts and fabric to create Avant Garde shapes and silhouettes; the impact of both historical and contemporary feminism on design; soft pastel tones and shapes as found in flowers and leaves of the natural environment; the use of the colour red through history and in luxury high end design; pre and post war implications on fashion design and fabric accessibility; and multiple types of fabric decoration techniques that could be used to create texture in the work. Aesthetically the pieces have been designed to combine historical, cultural and contemporary inspirations that reflect a stylish fitted garment for the modern professional woman who is looking for a unique, eye catching and original design to set her apart in the workplace. Hints of masculine workwear elements have been combined with fabric manipulation, hand stitched embroidery and by considering shape, colour and texture to create a more feminine piece. The garment is intended to be worn both indoors in air-conditioned environments, as well as outdoors moving between environments, and would be suitable for wear during most of the year in a temperate climate such as Sydney. The garment items have been carefully considered to ensure functionality for the wearer by choosing comfortable fabrics that allow for breathability while sitting, standing, and moving around throughout the day. The flexible design allows the wearer to adapt to their environment by wearing either the dress alone or with the jacket, open or closed, depending upon necessity. The unique nature of this couture with its original design, tailored suiting and handcrafted embellishments would suit a sophisticated, fashion aware, target market with sufficient expendable income.
