I like to imagine a parallel world to ours today that allows us to be more playful and expressive with our everyday fashion choices. Patriarchal views about how we should dress and act in a workplace environment have caused the idea of “professionalism” to have a connotation synonymous with being mundane and unimaginative. This collection takes rigidly structured looks and tears them apart, adding playful design twists, ruffles, and an abundance of color. I want to challenge our idea of what we consider to be “professional” dress and inspire everyone to bring out their inner child and have fun.
1D52D602-83C1-4EED-BF6E-BE11C1CBBDE9, Photo by Ryan Oh, Model: Logan McCollum
Model Logan dancing on the runway during a performance of the collection
Professionally Playful, Photo by Jabari Young @prayfuckgrow, Models: Bella Miller, Reese Okuwobi
Professionally Playful, Photo by Jabari Young @prayfuckgrow, Models: Ally Thomas, Rose Bizub-Rodriguez
Professionally Playful, Photo by Jabari Young @prayfuckgrow, Models: Juan Garcia, Bella Miller
Professionally Playful, Photo by Jabari Young @prayfuckgrow, Models: Reese Okuwobi, Joy Beckett
3F30C965-B9D4-4BD8-993C-1C5835F04E8A, Photo by Yinan Shan, Model: Andrew Casey
Model Andrew dancing on the runway during a performance of the collection
9936ECD1-B9B2-43CB-9252-D3D2BD246506, Photo by Yinan Shan, Model: Nico Valdez
Model Nico dancing on the runway during a performance of the collection
3C91AF79-173A-4317-B8B8-96990DABF97B, Photo by Ryan Oh, Model: Joy Beckett
Model Joy dancing on the runway during a performance of the collection
76C4110A-0DBB-4409-AD0B-F504067682C7, Photo by Eugene Tang @blackpilly, Model: Ody Kusoro
Model Ody dancing on the runway during a performance of the collection
I designed this collection thinking about the idea of bringing out your inner child as an adult. Growing up and now teaching within the Chicago Public School system, I have seen that young kids are more creative and kind when their confidence has not yet been crushed and judged. With this collection, I want to bring that confidence to express our true selves back into our lives as adults.
Colorful and fun clothing is typically not acceptable in a professional setting. We must conform to a rigid standard of dressing in muted colors of suits and button-up shirts, erasing any sense of individuality from our outward appearance. I have created this collection to show that we can be much happier when we allow ourselves to have fun and express our individuality, playful like a child.
The idea of play as a way to express yourself comes into the design with playful sewing and garment making techniques that I personally enjoy such as twisting fabric scraps together to make a rope structure. I have woven chains through these twisted pieces to create 3-dimensional garments made of bits of past stories and experiences, juxtaposing the use of objects that hold and bind (chain, rope) with the idea of breaking free from societal norms of “proper” and “professional” dress.