SHADOWS

This project was my first story and my Graduation Mens and Women's collection. Before I went into fashion I always knew I wanted to be a storyteller, and my first choice of school was to study animation and my dream was to work with Pixar, write Scripts, as well as Acting. But in my teen years I got lost in other people's words and ideas for me and my career path and ended up following a path that was intended for my mother, I can see that now. After years working in men's fashion, thanks to an incredibly painful foot injury I finally had the time to rethink my life and with my Dad's support I got back into what I really wanted to do, Filmmaking. But this first collection tells a story, and looking back it shows me how much I was craving to tell stories back then. That's why I wanted to share it in my portfolio. The inspiration came from death, the pain, grief, and emotions that follow after we lose a loved one. The belts represent our attachments to people, things, memories and emotions. And was inspired by Tim Burton's character Edward Scissorshands. As at the time I didn't want to chose between men and women, I created a collection that was both, and showed men's and women's. At the time I was going through a really rough patch, having lost a friend in a motorbike accident, months later followed by my grandmother and another month later my ex-boyfriend also in a motorbike accident, and few months later my beloved dog Linda! That was an emotionally and physically painful year. For the inspiration, I also used one of my favourite love stories, Dracula. The collection goes through the different stages. Death, Grief and Transformation. The collection has about 50 looks, below are some of my favourite looks. Diane x COLLECTION SHADOWS BY DIANE LOREN Illustrations - DIANE LOREN Tailor - EMMA HU (my mother)