Dezeen's latest school show presents a few groundbreaking award-winning student projects from the Design Institute of Australia. Heir is one of these projects.
Designer Maddison Robinson reflects on the emotional attachment between garments and the individuals who own them. As a fashion collection, Heir explores various notions of sentimentality that we attribute to special pieces of clothing we wear, The garments were modeled after the paradox of the ship of Theseus, as well. This is a well-known thought experiment that questions whether an object that has had all its components replaced (during repair, for instance) remains the same object on a fundamental level. Maddison Robinson raises this question in the fashion context—does a garment that has been repaired and/or reconstructed over time preserve its essence?
Sentimentality-Exploring Fashion Collections
Maddison Robinson’s Heir is an Award-Winning Project
Trend Themes
1. Fashion Sentimentality - Exploring the emotional attachment between garments and individuals through fashion collections offers opportunities to create unique and personalized pieces.
2. Conceptual Design - Integrating philosophical concepts into fashion collections can provide a unique selling point and inspire dialogue, creating more value for customers.
3. Sustainable Fashion - Using the concept of the paradox of the ship of Theseus in fashion design could inspire sustainable practices and promote longevity of clothing pieces.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - The fashion industry has an opportunity to create more customized pieces that tap into consumer sentiment and promote longevity of garments.
2. Design Industry - The design industry can integrate philosophical concepts into projects that can result in innovative and unique products across different sectors.
3. Sustainability Industry - Applying the concept of the paradox of the ship of Theseus to fashion design can inspire sustainable practices and promote circular economy in the fashion industry.