I finished my sophomore year in april and this was (the semisuccessful part of) what i made for spring exhibition
it was inspired by the similarities between brutalist design philosophy and techno culture, sculptural brutalist architecture/furniture, the first brutalist techno venues in Berlin and techno fashion.
ill be posting much more about my inspiration and design process in the coming weeks but i have a few important updates for u all
I realized this school year that I will not have time to make/sell/vend my clothes until I graduate in 2026. I also don't want to continue putting designs into production until I know how to properly pattern + drape for all sizes. School has taught me a lot but also shown me how much more I need to learn. The next two years I will be posting my school projects, sample pieces that i will start producing in all sizes after graduation and a few little rts drops for accessories like jewelry, wallets, bags etc.
I'll be expanding a lot off of my tactical tinkerbelts + tutus, continuing to combine utilitarian and whimsical styles, but prioritizing functionality even more by limiting excess and making my designs as modular as possible. The skirts and tactical belts will be sold separately so you can mix and match, and embellishments like crystal chains and bows will be removable. I'll also be making embroidered patches instead of painting the pockets so you can switch them out whenever you want.
In hopes of further limiting excess in my design I have been learning how to natural dye. i will be using natural dye and materials as much as possible in my work going forward. i may use small amounts of vintage or thrifted polyester materials but i will no longer be buying any new polyester fabric including faux fur. instead of sparkly/sequin fabrics i will be hand beading natural fabrics with real crystals. ive also been making jewelry and scale/chain mail with patina copper and other metals, which i'm excited to keep working with...
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Depth psychologist Carl Jung conceptualized the psyche’s shadow as the disowned aspects of the self, asserting that the less it is integrated into consciousness, the more pervasive it becomes.
This collection examines the evolving relationship to the shadow through shadow work. Heavy, restrictive silhouettes gradually lighten and loosen as the unconscious is confronted. What once concealed the self opens, revealing protective and illuminating potential. The helical nature of this process is expressed through spiraling pattern cutting and pleats, while pyrite emerges, referencing Jung’s alchemical metaphor of transformation from lead to gold, symbolizing psychological refinement through integration of the repressed shadow.
wip
if anyone in chicago knows how to saddle stitch and wants to help me get these heads sewn in by april 2nd lmk plz 🙏 willing to compensateee and feed u
thesis show may 1st
#brutalsirens
waiting for it to not be 90 degrees outside to take pictures of the 8 looks i made for school this year but here is one final preview for now :)
thank you @amynafae for modeling <3
made with plant dyed cotton and silk, second hand pebble leather, and genuine crystals
most of the natural dyes i made for my 3 look spring collection this year
cheese cloth, vintage crinkle silk chiffron, heavy weight bamboo fleece, heavyweight hemp/cotton blend ribbed knit, and 9 oz Indian cotton twill
i enjoy the natural dying process so much and am very excited for all the different fabrics I will be able to make when i finish school <3
alsooo i changed my instagram from discoflowco to @brutalsirens !! i named my account discoflowco when i was 17 and making flow paintings and tie dye in my parents basement lolll ive changed a lot since then as an artist and a person so i wanted to rename it something that better represents what im making now
sophomore year at saic i started learning about brutalist design philosophy and fell in love with it for its push for function over excess to efficiently build a better future that was 'built to last'. but brutalism sort of failed as a design aesthetic because concrete is actually a super wasteful material that creates significantly more excess and doesnt last as long as other materials anddd ppl found it kind of cold boring or depressing
so my goal became to make clothes that follow brutalist design philosophy for the most part, but actually uses materials that reduce waste, are built to last and value function over aesthetic without being totally deprived of joy.
if i dye a garment it will be done with natural dye, all fabrics - w the exception of some repurposed/second hand materials- will be made of natural fibers, leathers and silks will be collected from vintage/deadstock sources, all pieces will be made as convertible as possible to reduce waste and give u the most bang for yer buck and if a garment is beaded it will be done with genuine crystals
brutal sirens was the name of my sophomore year exhibition project, this was the first time i rlly thought about how i can promote the values i have through the clothes i make, how i want the wearer to feel and what my audience needs. i think brutal sirens represents that well. a balance of whimsy and utility for those that want to feel equally sexy and strong <3
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originally got this leather to make a corset for school but realized i didnt buy enough so i draped this little top n skirt w it before leaving for lib
will definitely be adding boning to the tops so theyre more supportive and stay in place better but theyll be available when i reopen shop along w lots of other similar pieces
the leather is from a native owned small business based in canada that collects hides from local hunters who wouldnt have used them otherwise
between the lack of durability and how bad it is for the environment, i wont be using pleather anymore but i will definitely be making lots more pieces with leather from this small business and vintage/deadstock sources
a few of my final fabric manipulations for my junior year exhibition collection
natural dye, organic beeswax, genuine crystals and shattered capiz shells
wanted to create as many colors as possible for this collection because sophomore year my piece was grey and my senior thesis collection will be grey and black, im in love with these natural dye colors and can't wait to make more pieces with them after i graduate
8 looks coming soon :))
a few of the fabric manipulations i made last fall in preparation for this years exhibition project 🧟♀️🧜🏻♀️
beaded with high quality crystals + broken capiz shells
just used fabrics from local shops for these samples but i dyed natural fabrics with plant dyes for my spring collection
will be making lots of pieces with these beaded siren slashes when i reopen <3
