Inspired by generational perceptions of the Bible & it’s stories, From Adam’s Rib is a womenswear collection which enshrines a feeling of juvenility that is somewhat off-kilter. The collection juxtaposes garments which are poignantly ecclesiastical in form with disproportionately oversized tailoring, creating a silhouette reminiscent of playing dress-up as a child.

The purpose of this collection was to achieve an aesthetic of opposites, to create “a carefully curated degree of display & concealment” (Scott, 1986). Structurally, there is a rigid simplicity to “From Adam’s Rib”, representative of the staunch, black & white religious beliefs of older generations. Inspired by the conservative dress worn by various orders of Catholic nuns & women from Amish and Mennonite communities, stiff bibs & underpinnings were created incorporating sharp darting and pleating techniques. Transparent fabrics such as cotton organdy and silk organza were used to counteract the austere appearance of these garments. Furthermore, this very puritan aesthetic is juxtaposed with a disproportionate silhouette and vibrant injections of colour, reminiscent of my liberal childhood experiences with faith. Pink and green fabrics, inspired by Christo & Jean-Claude’s 1982 “Surrounded Islands”, are representative of a modern day Garden of Eden, providing a necessary contrast to the otherwise sombre colour story. The layering of fabrics, colours and varying silhouettes was paramount to creating a collection which both “displayed” and “concealed” the female form, hence // a playful contradiction