Arts Thread

Saule Gradeckaite
Fashion Design Technology Menswear MA

London College of Fashion UAL

Graduates: 2024

Specialisms: Accessories / Fashion Technology / Fashion Product Development

My location: London, United Kingdom

saule-gradeckaite ArtsThread Profile
London College of Fashion UAL

Saule Gradeckaite

saule-gradeckaite ArtsThread Profile

First Name: Saule

Last Name: Gradeckaite

University / College: London College of Fashion UAL

Course / Program: Fashion Design Technology Menswear MA

Graduates: 2024

Specialisms: Accessories / Fashion Technology / Fashion Product Development

My Location: London, United Kingdom

Website: Click To See Website

About

Anchored by a deep-seated interest for technical construction, GRADUS toes the line between conceptually driven notions of design and technically elaborate ideas of garment construction. Saule's constructions are underlined by her background in Visual Academic Arts, and the designer leans on her knowledge of academic sculpture, drawing and painting to inform her current work, successfully rendering complex social notions for boundary-pushing individuals.

The ‘Howdy’ S/S 2024 collection for men questions the authenticity of the cowboy image. It includes a sculptural outer layer of deformed human body bones belted onto the garments. The bones represent a static and immutable concept of what can be considered a real cowboy whilst the garments embody the continuing change in the cowboy's wardrobe as informed by a study in archetypes and their function in relation to the cowboy's role. Meanwhile, the leather belting system of the bones portrays the persisting and changeable elements of the cowboy himself and the physicality he performs. Therefore, the design methodology used for the cowboy silhouette in this collection equates to the investigation of what is authentic about the cowboy and the transition from the real to the fictional figure citing 'Hollywoodization' as its vehicle.