Leather, metal, armor, sharp shapes, and an underlying delicate romance. That has been my style evolution this year. This year, I have been experimenting with researching medieval armor, using it as inspiration for my designs, and working with thrifted materials. Body armor is something so beautiful, and it is something much more than knights. My process consists of searching through images of armor and taking pieces of them that interest me, and I begin sketching from there. In addition, materials are just as important to me as research, especially when I can upcycle thrift clothing, fabric scraps, or old clothes of my own. I have always been a big upcycled, but this year, I have grown and pushed my limits by printing on, manipulating, and entirely giving an unrecognizable look to pieces that would have withered away in the bins.
randazzo_1, Armed Gown
2023, faux leather, metal studs, and triple velvet
randazzo_2, Armed Gown
2023, faux leather, metal studs, and triple velvet
randazzo_3, Armed Gown
2023, faux leather, metal studs, and triple velvet
randazzo_4, Moto Two Piece Set
2024, upcycled pleather motorcycle jacket and dupioni blazer
randazzo_5, Moto Two Piece Set (on dress form)
2024, upcycled pleather motorcycle jacket and dupioni blazer
randazzo_6, Moto Two Piece Set
2024, upcycled pleather motorcycle jacket and dupioni blazer
randazzo_7, Moth Top
2024, upcycled georgette sundress and gauze infinity scarf
randazzo_8, Moth Top
2024, upcycled georgette sundress and gauze infinity scarf
randazzo_9, Moth Top
2024, upcycled georgette sundress and gauze infinity scarf
randazzo_10, Moth Top in detail
2024, upcycled georgette sundress and gauze infinity scarf
My piece, Armed Gown, was created in my Intro to Fashion class, where our final project was to design any garment and incorporate research into the design. It was my first fashion class as a freshman at SAIC, and I wanted to push myself with a complex look out of my comfort zone. It was my first time working with faux leather and crafting the pattern for the top involved constant trial and error. What truly helped me when I would get frustrated was examining photos of armor and trying to figure out how it was pieced together and how I could replicate that in fabric. For the velvet gown, I wanted it to be very flowy, loose, and romantic to reference our hearts and vulnerability. The gown juxtaposes the tight black studded armor to create a garment that displays the act of guarding our hearts but building walls to conceal our emotions. A type of armor that is not seen in history books or museums, one that we wrestle with each day.
My two other pieces, Moth Top and Moto Two Piece set, were both designed in my Redining Edges Zero Waste class. Using zero-waste pattern-making methods, I was challenged to create garments out of thrifted material. One of my favorite ways to get inspired is to thrift; ever since I was young, I have used found and thrifted materials to make clothing, so I was very excited about this project. For my Moto Two Piece set, I thrifted a pleather Forever 21 motorcycle jacket and a red Dupioni blazer. I was especially drawn to the motorcycle jacket since it had so many zippers and metal pieces I could play with. The blazer was perfect since it complimented the shine and added structure to the skirt. I first began by taking pieces from the jacket I liked, such as the collar, zippers, and belt, then deconstructed the rest and made patterns that worked with the aspects I was drawn to. I wanted this look to be something you could wear to a party or a fun event since most “going out clothes” have been mass-produced by fast fashion companies for wearers to wear for a night and then discard. This piece critiques the idea of single-wear party clothes due to being 100% recycled and made to last even the craziest nights.
My piece, Moth Top, was made for my end-of-the-year final. For this project, the fabric was thrifted and consisted of a white layered sundress and a sheer infinity scarf. This piece pushed me style-wise and construction-wise since it is the first garment I have made that is a light color. I have always found beauty in the dark and macabre, but I wanted to challenge myself by making something aesthetically different that still represents me. My process for this garment began with using a zero waste draping technique created by Usha Doshi, Creating with Shapes, where I cut a circle in the fabric and folded it to make the flowy moth wing shape. Then, I hand-dyed the piece in black tea and smokey blue dye, then heat-pressed a faint image of a moth on the front to bring out the piece’s main inspiration. When I began my dye process, I used my scrap fabric to run some test dyes; those fabric scraps were patched together onto the inside details of the garment to add more detail and reduce waste. I used a razor to create “moth-eaten” holes for the finishing touches. I found that part important since it romanticizes wearing used clothes, even if they are a little tattered; it is a part of the beauty.