Ruth Naylor
Fashion Design BA (Hons)
De Montfort University
Specialisms: Womenswear / Genderless / Fashion Technology
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Ruth Naylor
First Name: Ruth
Last Name: Naylor
Specialisms: Womenswear / Genderless / Fashion Technology
Sectors:
My Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
University / College: De Montfort University
Course / Program Title: Fashion Design BA (Hons)
About
I am a graduate of De Montfort University specialising in creative cutting to create non-traditional garments that are not restricted by the shape of the body. I enjoy mixing current and historical references while playing with exaggerated shapes and experimental silhouettes to create future-facing garments. Currently I am most interested in creating silhouettes that are completely abstract and do not conform to the body, yet finding a way to make them wearable as clothing. Conceptually, I like exploring ideas pertaining to our current life and potential future, such as biology, technology, and apocalypse.
I have always been interested in depictions of the future through different media, from the sci-fi and cyberpunk movies of the 80's and 90's, to the dystopian themes in more recent fiction. It is interesting to look back at how people in past eras imagined their future and to be able to see how the social and political climate of the period influenced their ideas. Through doing this I noticed similarities between modern day and the Cold War era - anxieties surrounding nuclear war, fear yet anticipation for new technologies, and an overwhelming focus on self-protection. For my graduate collection I decided to take inspiration from nuclear bunkers, combined with modern sci-fi aesthetics to create my own vision of future apparel - suited for a nuclear apocalypse.
A project inspired by extracts from Catherine Spooner's 'Fashioning Gothic Bodies' exploring the relationship between the skin and the inside of the body. The skin acts as a harsh barrier, but what happens when the boundaries between inside and outside are blurred? My collection plays with ideas of translucency stretch and unveiling, as well as cocoon-like shapes which mimic the protective yet permeable nature of the skin.
A short portfolio highlighting my work from my second year of university. Print Project - Investigating identity based storytelling through print exploration and zero wasted pattern cutting. I focused on my personal collections, using photoshop to digitally manipulate ticket scans and photography for print design. Kenzo bootcamp - a challenge to recreate a designer garment from Kenzo S/S 21. An exercise in deep research and reverse engineering.