VIRAEMIA
I have reflected upon the hardships of communication and the struggle of keeping relationships alive during the COVID-19 lockdown(s) and past pandemics and events - inspired by the post-pandemic consumer, I focused on including adaptive fabrics, meaning they also provide breathability and coolness when worn in warm weather. During these times of change, I was drawn to find out more about the extremities people resort to when it comes to protecting themselves. The new pandemic lifestyle which focuses on protection and wellness has led my collection to follow an exaggerated aesthetic of ‘apocalyptic’ weather. The concept of 'survival' we once found to be worrisome will eventually become part of our everyday lives. The progression of the COVID-19 pandemic has made relationships with friends and relatives suffer due to the lack of physical and social interactions. Therefore, this has led me to investigate how people communicate and maintain a relationship during COVID-19 and past pandemics and events. Current nurses’ PPE, the evacuee children of 1950, Influenza from 1918 and the landing of Apollo in 1969 have inspired my designs and the key ethos of my brand surrounding protection and anti-bacterial properties. As I’ve had more time to reflect upon my designs and chosen fabrics, the idea of sustainability has proven to be the right choice in terms of the longevity and practicality of the garment. The new pandemic lifestyle which focuses on protection and wellness has pushed me to experiment with fabrics as Tactel, Cordura and other filtration fabrics. I have introduced sleek details, such as detachable masks and shields, as well as anti-bacterial pockets in order to provide the wearer a safer journey outside. Following the Apollo mission in 1969, the prints are inspired by the Mars Dunes and Morse code. I have achieved these designs by deconstructing the dunes and free-hand abstract sequences of symbols which are messages translated from Morse code. For example, a few of the sentences are: ‘’I have been tested positive’’, or ’'I wish you were here'’.