Forged gilded copper
This project was a collaboration between Women’s Wear and Jewellery Design at Central Saint Martins. For our group, we chose to explore the concept of ageing and the preservation of self. We began our primary research at the V&A and British Museum where I drew a lot of inspiration from the marble and stone statues - the draping of the clothing reminded me strongly of old, sagging skin. This intrigue then led me onto exploring how humans attempt to preserve their youth through procedures; such as plastic surgery.
The bodice consists of gilded copper that has been hand-forged to the form of a women’s torso, the arm cuffs acting as a brace-like structure to prevent the wearer from hunching over (often a symptom of old age). The frayed edges of the bodice portray the sagging, aged skin in contrast to the youthful, taut centre skin.
Design Development
Collaborative Mood board
Collaborative Samples