My Final Major Project “Shoot Hoops Not Guns” explores the themes of 80s and 90s basketball references inspired by my father’s love of the sport, with touches of nostalgia for early 2000s video games. Living though such unpredictable times, escaping the real world and immersing myself in a digital infused space full of artificial colours, glitched patterns and a variety of textures was welcomed. I set out to create a final collection that was bold to look at, in an ever-evolving digital age, retro in style and designed to appeal on screen and in real life. I sourced my fabrics responsibly, using deadstock faux leather for the core garments and hand painting the pieces in hyper-saturated custom colours.
The prints within the collection were created using a traditional Japanese marbling technique known as Suminagashi, which I then adapted into a striking digital repeat print (preventing unnecessary water waste). Collating silhouette influence from street-savvy athletes of the late 80s through 90s pushed my ability to create shapes that were powerful for the wearer of the garments – the elevated shoulders, oversized sleeves, exaggerated slits and elongated styles evoke a not-to-be-messed-with attitude. Combining old classics with new ideas within my collection enabled me to create a joyful expression of computer enhanced hues that blur the lines between digital and real life. I hope my work transports you into a refreshing dimension where you are untouchable, providing a much-needed escape from the hardship we have all endured over this past year.
Mae fy Mhrosiect Mawr Terfynol “Shoot Hoops Not Guns” yn archwilio themâu cyfeiriadau pêl-fasged yr 80au a’r 90au a ysbrydolwyd gan gariad fy nhad tuag at y gamp, gyda chyffyrddiadau o hiraeth am gemau fideo dechrau’r 2000au. Croesawyd byw drwy amseroedd mor anrhagweladwy, dianc rhag y byd go iawn a throchi fy hun mewn gofod digidol llawn lliwiau artiffisial, patrymau glitch ac amrywiaeth o weadau. Eu bwriad oedd creu casgliad terfynol a oedd yn feiddgar i edrych arno, mewn oes ddigidol sy’n esblygu’n barhaus, retro mewn steil ac a gynlluniwyd i apelio ar y sgrin ac mewn bywyd go iawn. Chwiliais yn gyfrifol am ffabrigau, gan ddefnyddio lledr ffug stoc marw ar gyfer y dillad craidd a pheintio’r darnau mewn lliwiau personol hyper-dirlawn â llaw.
Crëwyd yr argraffiadau o fewn y casgliad gan ddefnyddio techneg brithwaith Japaneaidd draddodiadol o’r enw Suminagashi, a addaswyd wedyn yn ail brint digidol trawiadol (gan atal gwastraff dŵr diangen). Roedd casglu dylanwad silwét gan athletwyr stryd ymwybyddiaeth uchel ar ddiwedd yr 80au drwy’r 90au yn gwthio fy ngallu i greu siapiau a oedd yn bwerus i’r rhai sy’n gwisgo’r dillad – mae’r ysgwyddau uwch, llewys anarferol o fawr, slitiau wedi’u gor-wneud ac arddulliau ymestyn yn ysgogi agwedd na ddylid ymyrryd ag ef. Roedd cyfuno hen glasuron â syniadau newydd o fewn fy nghasgliad yn fy ngalluogi i greu mynegiant llawen o arlliwiau wedi’u gwella gan gyfrifiadur sy’n pylu’r llinellau rhwng bywyd digidol a bywyd go iawn. Gobeithio y bydd fy ngwaith yn eich cludo i ddimensiwn braf anghyffyrddadwy, gan ddarparu dihangfa y mae mawr ei angen o’r caledi yr ydym i gyd wedi’i ddioddef dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf.
