TREE OF LIFE
Above: #1 Concept Board #2 Intial drawings and visual research
PROJECT CONCEPT
Inspired by the peculiarities of Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” [1515], my collection explores the mystery of the ‘unseen realm’: Perfection to Disruption, Peace to Corruption.
The collection revolves around fantastical armour for the angels guarding the TREE OF LIFE. Alongside undergrowth, strange botanical florals and Fibonacci’s pattern in the Garden of Eden then digitally mutating into darkness. Working with bio and natural materials with the idea that everything is biodegradable and can return to the Garden it was forged in.
The collection revolves around fantastical armour for the angels guarding the TREE OF LIFE. Alongside undergrowth, strange botanical florals and Fibonacci’s pattern in the Garden of Eden then digitally mutating into darkness. Working with bio and natural materials with the idea that everything is biodegradable and can return to the Garden it was forged in.
I spent a year in industry working for Miss Sohee on 3D sculptural couture pieces and alongside Liberty, developing floral accessories delving into their rich archive. This mix of experience influences my design. With final pieces being tailored for a performance setting: accessories lending itself to the fantasticalness of the concept. A romantic reaction to the age of the digital, promoting
ANGELIC SCAPULAR
Above: #1 Final Wearable Piece: Angelic Scapular
PROJECT CONCEPT
My concept is titled ‘Tree of Life’ and is inspired by the peculiarities of Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” [1515]. Exploring the mystery of the ‘unseen realm’ and biblical story of creation. The piece, ‘Angelic Scapular’ is made of embroidered 3D wired petals representing fantastical armor for the cherubim guarding the TREE OF LIFE. Feathers are encrusted in crystals grown on silk, inspired by strange botanical florals and Fibonacci’s pattern in the Garden of Eden then organically mutating into darkness.
Each petal is wired, covered in hand dyed and pleated silk habotai, backed with satin backing and then hand embroidered. I’ve worked with 100% silk and organic embellishment, with the idea that everything is biodegradable and can return to the Garden it was forged in. I spent a year in industry, partly working for Miss Sohee on 3D sculptural couture pieces. This influence of couture design has influenced my outcome. With the final piece being tailored for a performance setting: a body accessory lending itself to the fantasticalness of the concept. In response to the Mystic Arts, the piece is a romantic reaction to the age of the digital, promoting a return to the natural and the spiritual.
Above: Hand & Lock Photography of Angelic ScapularCOLLABORTATION w/ Maisie Tongemann
Above: Intial drawings and visual research
COLLABORATION W/Maisie Tongemann
collaboration w/ fashion student
Wanted to collaborate textile artwork into garment with fashion student. Both like design minded, had similar influence of the ornate particularly art noveau, felt like this would be a good colloboration of minds. Especially after working in industry felt it was important to allow artwork to be turned into final garments.
Began using art noveau border details from streets of Barcelona, evolving those into orchid and elaborate linear illustrations. Helped alongside colour development. All garments are design work of Maisie Tongemann.
LIBERTY London: Live Project Winner
Above: Intial drawings and visual research
EDITH’S POST MOURNING REGAL RAVE
Live Brief project is based on Dame Edith Sitwell an English aristocrat and eccentric. We based the project as her of the host of this gaudy surrealist banquet like the 1941 Surrealist banquet Dali and his wife hosted. We depicted the cuisine to come from the pages of his kitschy cookbook; Les Diners de Gala. We reimagined this story through the vision of lustrous silk scarves and little party bags you took with you after you were dragged away from the ball. The element of surrealism was to represent vertigo from blackout intoxication the lingering aftermath of a party.
Dame Edith also had this deep fascination with death and often wore Whitby jet a Victorian mourning gem. We were creating this project over teams in the height of lockdown. The project was drawing upon that heavy presence of death and loss we were collectively feeling nationally and this collection was tapping into the zeitgeist to feel alive again: in music, richness and the transitory moments of a party.
ABOUT ME
I’m a multidisplinary designer specialised in embroidery. My process is very concept driven and materials led, inspired by creating rich tactile embroidered textile surfaces. And using innovative materials in my design process.
I spent a year in industry working for Miss Sohee on 3D sculptural couture pieces and alongside Liberty, developing floral accessories delving into their rich archive. This mix of experience influences my design. With final pieces being tailored for a performance setting: accessories lending itself to the fantasticalness of the concept. A romantic reaction to the age of the digital, promoting a return to the natural and the spiritual.
︎francescapower
︎ francesca.oa.power@gmail.com
I spent a year in industry working for Miss Sohee on 3D sculptural couture pieces and alongside Liberty, developing floral accessories delving into their rich archive. This mix of experience influences my design. With final pieces being tailored for a performance setting: accessories lending itself to the fantasticalness of the concept. A romantic reaction to the age of the digital, promoting a return to the natural and the spiritual.
CONTACT
︎f.p0werrr︎francescapower
︎ francesca.oa.power@gmail.com
