Megan Purnell

BA (Hons) Fashion Design
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell
  • Megan Purnell

My passion lies in genderless clothing, so for my graduate collection ‘Truth’ I wanted to delve into creating unisex wear that strays from the streetstyle that is in the mainstream. After having written my dissertation exploring genderless clothing on the high street and on the runway, it seemed natural to continue my study into gender with my own designs. For me, my collection is an opportunity to show how I think genderless clothing should be progressing into; menswear has been explored deeply in womenswear and with the ever-growing rise of the ‘genderation’ I wanted to introduce femininity in a subtle way. In my dissertation I wrote a lot about toxic masculinity and homophobia for men’s fear of subverting into more feminine clothing, so working subtly with masc and femme was important when designing. Bringing in a sensuality with soft fabrics and textures is complimented well with masculine silhouettes. This collection features a print that has been created from my own body form to push the essence of sensuality and body image in a time where social media is tearing our bodies apart. This theme of form continues into my exploration of the art of ceramics. Adding a sense of humour, I have created nipple buttons and I have also created genderless bags. The ceramic material represents the message of fragility the gender non-conforming community feel within our society. Fashion is the main way in which we express our identity and that is the message I wanted to explore withing ‘Truth’.


Mae fy angerdd yn gorwedd mewn dillad di-rywedd, felly i’m casgliad graddedig, ‘Truth’, roeddwn am ymchwilio i greu dillad neillryw sy’n crwydro o’r steil stryd sydd yn y brif ffrwd. Ar ôl ysgrifennu fy nhraethawd estynedig yn archwilio dillad di-rywedd ar y stryd fawr ac ar y rhedfa, roedd yn ymddangos yn naturiol parhau â’m hastudiaeth i rywedd gyda’m dyluniadau fy hun. I mi, mae fy nghasgliad yn gyfle i ddangos sut rwy’n credu y dylai dillad di-ryw fod yn symud ymlaen; archwiliwyd dillad dynion yn ddwfn mewn dillad menywod a chyda’r cynnydd cynyddol mewn ‘genderation’, roeddwn am gyflwyno benyweidd-dra mewn ffordd gynnil. Yn fy nhraethawd estynedig ysgrifennais lawer am wrywdod a homoffobia gwenwynig ofn dynion o wyrdroi i ddillad mwy benywaidd, felly roedd gweithio’n gynnil gyda masc a femme yn bwysig wrth ddylunio. Mae dod â chnawdoliaeth gyda ffabrigau meddal a gweadau yn cael ei ategu’n dda gyda silwetau gwrywaidd. Mae’r casgliad hwn yn cynnwys print sydd wedi’i greu o ffurf fy nghorff fy hun i wthio hanfod cnawdolrwydd a delwedd y corff mewn cyfnod lle mae’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn rhwygo ein cyrff ar wahân. Mae’r thema hon o ffurf yn parhau i’m harchwiliad o gelf cerameg. Gan ychwanegu synnwyr digrifwch, rwyf wedi creu botymau tethi ac rwyf hefyd wedi creu bagiau di-rywedd. Mae’r deunydd cerameg yn cynrychioli’r neges o freuder y mae’r gymuned nad yw’n cydymffurfio o ran rhywedd yn ei deimlo yn ein cymdeithas. Ffasiwn yw’r brif ffordd yr ydym yn mynegi ein hunaniaeth a dyna’r neges yr oeddwn am ei harchwilio o fewn ‘Truth’.

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