At the heart of this project lies a creative collaboration and fusion of ideas between designers with seemingly different goals - the search for light texture and elegant fashion.
As a texture and materials designer, I began by seeking out materials with an interesting interplay of light and texture. I explored the texture and properties of plastic materials. Plastic can take so many forms - it can be thin and light, almost transparent, or thick and opaque. I was intrigued by the way thin layers of plastic create depth and dimension when arranged or lit in different ways.
Paint can take many unorthodox forms and this series explores the potential of nail polish used as an artistic medium.
Nail polish has unique properties that make it ideal for creating thin, translucent layers of saturated color. The polish dries quickly, applies smoothly, and self-levels, allowing very precise layering.
By repeating this process with multiple colors, I built up transparent layers that revealed subtle interplay between hues. The extremely thin application allowed light to pass through the layers, imbuing the work with a sense of depth, luminosity and three-dimensionality.
I then digitally scanned the layered nail polish films at high resolution, further enhancing their rich texture and dimension. Digital manipulation combined the scans into compositions that explore the gradients, shine and interplay between colors made possible by this unusual painting medium.
The designers envisioned garments that were light to the touch yet texturally rich. They sought out materials that would enhance movement while adding layers of visual interest.
Translucent diaphanous fabrics were experimented with. The designers appreciated how these light materials could be draped and folded to create fluidity, grace and visual complexity while retaining an ethereal quality.
