Graduate Fashion Week has unveiled its 2019 Talent of Tomorrow campaign featuring the work of final year BA (Hons) Fashion student Chloe Bagge.
12 final year students were chosen to feature in the campaign, showcasing the most exciting emerging talent from across the UK. The students’ designs were used in a photoshoot, shot by photographer Erika Astrid and styled by Jennifer Mertens. A selection of seven influencers and content creators were invited to join the campaign’s official photoshoot on the rooftop of the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch to wear the students' clothes. Chloe’s designs were worn by In the Frow founder Victoria Magrath.
Image: The Talent of Tomorrow designs worn by influencers. Chloe Bagge's design worn by Victoria Magrath seen third from left.
Rather than using garments to conceal, Chloe’s collection celebrates the beauty of imperfections, with emphasis on handcraft through the creation of textiles that emulate apparent ‘flaws’ found on the skin’s surface. She told us:
“Through the exploration into degenerative skin conditions, namely vitiligo and psoriasis, my garments resemble a second skin that celebrates diversity and challenges the homogenous vision of the female form. Rendering flesh on a monumental scale, my hand paintings reference artist Jenny Saville, who presents the un-airbrushed female form and projects it onto large scale canvases to be admired.
Embracing the concept of wabi sabi, (in traditional Japanese aesthetics this is a world view centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection), the collection aims to challenge establish notions of beauty and instead, confront the viewer with the poignant beauty of humanity through the garments.”
Graduate Fashion Week takes place from 2 – 5 June 2019 at Truman Brewery, London, showcasing the very best fashion graduates each year. Find out more here.