work. | Portfolio

The Bigger Picture

2023

203 cm x 160 cm x 87 cm

Sublimation printed and sewn upcycled lace trim.

Often, we find ourselves accepting things at their surface level, forgetting to pause, take a step back, and see 'The Bigger Picture.'

An exploration into textiles for the form; an assemblage designed to encourage textiles considerate of the body and the future, developed to both encourage and revolutionise the way we harness self-expression through textiles, creating something that is both captivating and ethical.

Born from surplus waste and developing the basis; donated deadstock lace trims sourced from the community began a new journey. Hundreds of metres of delicate lace, once destined for the abyss of landfills, now repurposed into something entirely unfamiliar. Individually stitched and sewn into their own fabric, now forming the foundation of the piece and leveraging hand ruching, these textures elevate the depth of emotion and form, infusing intricate details into the scale-driven outcome. Harnessing scale meant effectively utilising the surplus lace, in turn achieving an outcome in alignment with my intended goal. Extracted from my new surroundings the muted tones dance in deliberate disarray, gracefully fading into one another throughout the layers as sublimation printing is advocated in a refined combination of colour realising a matured catalyst. Details reminiscent of classic patterns; embroidered lines emphasise the simplicity of the check and stripe. Intertwined, subtle, flat prints and imagery manipulated from my own journey incorporate sentimental florals and reclaimed ribbons, although in contrast, creating fusion, forging unity within the structure.

Floating, reliant on layering and gravity, the shaping; suggestive of a dress's silhouette, evokes the incorporation of realism in the imagination of an

on the body outcome for these textiles as they explore the valuable impact of ethical textiles on our clothes and form.

Stop. Pause for a moment and ask yourself: What is 'The Bigger Picture'?

Untying the Knot

2023

100 cm x 45 cm

Sublimation printed and sewn upcycled lace trim.

Exploring the effectiveness of repurposing existing resources, ‘Untying the Knot’ is a project driven by ‘designing slow’ (Ted’s 10), challenging the notions of ‘fast’ at its core, in doing so aiming to address my doubts about the constant need to create something “new” when we have so much “old” that we could utilize in the industry. Investigating our overwhelmed local op shops the inspiration to focus on lace developed, not only a beautiful and delicate textile but also a historical one, dating back to the 16th century, now ironically at the forefront of many fast fashion trends.

Sourcing from my community, the plethora of obsolete textiles and lace offered to me introduced a clear need for repurposing and reimagining textiles within our local industry. Crafting a vibrant, nostalgic, pastel-driven palette while exploring simple textures and motifs it felt important to reflect and combine my own personal narrative and history with these textiles that also held such a story, in turn establishing my playful aesthetic. The strong emphasis on white bridal-like tones throughout the sourced second-hand lace enabled me to explore and exhaust various color transformations, discovering that sublimation printing offered the most sustainable option. The extensive trial and error resulting in a youthful, lively evolution towards soft purples, pinks, yellows, oranges, and blues. Focusing on a slowly crafted, texture-filled outcome combining over a hundred pieces of colorful lace trim in a subtle check pattern, while still highlighting their intricate details individually. The evolution of texture and pattern within my piece was further enhanced by strategically introducing the bow motif to subtly infuse a personal touch incorporating a childhood connection and story to the piece. Individually sewn together deliberately achieving a loose ruching effect breathing new life into these otherwise flat trims.

This new piece of fabric alludes to the potential for an on-the-body use, but that final decision is left to the end user, promoting the importance of cyclability. Now given a new life, these humble obsolete lace pieces visualize the success of my goal. ‘Untying the Knot’ explores the concept of undoing the textile and fashion industry, focusing on the utilization of upcycling rather than the constant need to create something new from scratch every time. These sourced, second hand materials now telling a unique story in their new life photographed and styled using only the donated fabircs.

Current Work

Sojo PTY LTD (Tradie Underwear)

Current

Junior Textile Designer

BUCI NYC (Sydney)

2023

Internship

‘The Big Design Market’ and ‘Finders Keeper’s Market’ x RMIT

2022

8 Piece Collection

Knit, screen print and sublimation printed onto upcycled blanks.

‘Seventh Heaven’ invites us all into a place of complete floral bliss as we take a journey to a natural euphoria. Influenced by all things flora and fauna, inviting my audience to associate these pieces with all things dreamlike in a natural world. Exploring obscure motifs manipulated from images into both screen and sublimation prints, evoking a hallucinogenic facade whilst also connecting the collection to my own abode. Expressing this through cute and lively colourways and patterns, the considered palette of bright colours along with their pastel tones gives the impression of elation in our flora filled fantasy. This collection consists of 8 pieces explores a varitey of techniques, across both clothing and assessories.

Hand-knitted using the English fisherman rib stitch for the body of the bag and the classic stockinette for the strap, this design creates a contrast between the rounded form and sharp lines, developed from pattern pieces. The adjustable strap of the "Carry On" bag allows for versatile styling, transitioning from a bum bag to a shoulder bag or a crossbody bag with a pull-close interior finish. This screen print, named "Florescence," embodies the concept of a flower unfolding and growing, emphasizing texture and contrast. In contrast, its companion print radiates playfulness and vibrant colors. Primary research and meticulous editing processes focused on color, hue, and saturation tools to ensure the final result radiates brightness and fun, with the colors harmoniously contrasting each other. Printed onto recycled materials, the collection cleverly plays with the phrase "Ants in your pants." Hand-drawn type and floral motifs, laser-cut onto recycled denim, and embroidered onto upcycled pants transformed into skirts, add a unique touch to the collection. To elevate the collection, a tailor-sewn "Floriated headband" introduces the concept of a repeat pattern, emphasizing subtlety through angle-based repetition. The variety of motifs, all derived from a single primary research image, showcase the complexity and editing techniques used throughout the collection.

Ant

2021

This collection signifies the inception of my textile journey, serving as the cornerstone of my passion. It seamlessly blends my adoration for vivid hues and the inspiration drawn from my surroundings. Inspired by the flora in my immediate environment, the prints, both screen and sublimation printed, have been meticulously crafted from still images, resulting in these playful outcomes and designs. These prints are thoughtfully paired with sewn garments, where classic silhouettes harmonize with playful colors, imbuing each piece with a sense of individuality. Every item is locally printed and sewn, reinforcing my determination to delve deeper into the world of textile design as a craft. This collection not only celebrates the start of my creative journey but also the vibrant world that inspires it.