My project is based on The Tempest, written by William Shakespeare. The costume designs are intended for a film adaptation set in the 17th century.
The textile designs are inspired by nature and sea-life linking back to the plays Island setting. I explored different textures and surface finishes, contrasted matt and shiny fabrics, and used 3-D techniques such as smocking and trapunto to reflect different elements of the characters.
Using solely tones of black in my final costume has allowed me to explore the contrast of different textile surfaces to symbolise the character of Caliban, who is categorised as a beast. The remaining character designs incorporate colours from nature inspired from primary research images and colour theory. For example for the villain Antonio I have used red to symbolise power. I researched gender fluid fashion to create a silhouette for the mythical characters that could be worn by an actor with any gender identity.
This course has nurtured my skills in design, construction, and embroidered textiles. I had great experiences on placement with The National Theatre and fluid fashion designer Harris Reed and now I can’t wait to start my journey within the costume industry.