“This collection is an automotive expression of emotion, using surrealism and sculpted fish leather to harness creativity. Concepts explored: freedom, love, delusion, beauty of the random and the limitless boundary of the brain. I work with local fishmongers such as Moxons Fresh Fish; collecting their waste fish skins to turn into leather (and sequins from the scales) before draping them into wearable sculptures.
The aim of my practise is to work cross disciplinary, using a waste management system to satisfy the constant demand in fashion. Although most of the collection is my own fish leather, the brightly coloured look is made in collaboration with INVERSA Leathers, using their Invasive Lionfish Leather to create gloves and a skirt.
Each Invasive Lionfish hide helps protect up to 70,000 native reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, evidencing how fashion can create a positive impact for our ecosystems.”
Photographer and Producer: Maya Wanelik
Fashion Designer: Isabelle Taylor
Hair and Makeup Artist: Sadie Lauder
Set Designer: Sam Edyn
Models: JSMINE SOPHIA at Revolt Model Agency, and Natalie Phang at Linden Staub
Hair and Makeup Assistant: Rossi Elia Griffin
Lighting Assistants: Alex Galloway, Martino Masi
Set Design Assistants: Rosie Reekie, Harry Walker
Image Retoucher: Lowri Linklater
Sponsored by: GAS Studios
Invasive Lionfish Leather Look in Collaboration with: INVERSA Leather
Breakdown of looks
Love: Sculpted fish leather in shape o sword top, with appliqué fish leather bird of prey on charity shop repurposed skirt
Head in the clouds: Sculpted fish leather cloud shaped shoulder piece adorned in salmon scales
Deadstock stretch mini dress with salmon scale sequins.
Imagination: Vintage suit with monochrome appliqué fish leather shapes using random imagery from the book ‘Extraordinary Things to Cut Out and Collage’, mixed in and contrasted with personal imagery of my life.
Strength: Dead-stock blue chainmail dress with sculpted black fish leather hips and shoulder piece
Freedom: Sculpted fish leather top with bird and human heart shapes. Paired with gloves and skirt using INVERSA Invasive Lionfish Leather on dead-stock wool-back satin, embellished with fish scales