CONCEPT
citypace ss 2021 A womenswear collection inspired by the positive reflection of new city life- captured through elements that we see within our booming metropolitans areas including street art with multicultural origins, especially when cycling through it. My personal journey through the streets of Sri Lanka lead me to appreciate the visuals of stacks of rice bags in store fronts and sinhala-tamil fonts strewn across road signs. The clothing is an array of mainly athleisure-wear that would complement cycling pieces which are reminiscent of the 80s hip hop sporty aesthetic with bright primary colours but clean silhouettes. The idea behind the garments is to allow a smooth transition from exercise to lounging all while looking bold and fashion-forward. The majority of the fabrics will be treated by environmentaly-friendly coatings to ensure that washing them will not add to micro-plastic pollution in the sea. By implementing crabyon fabric technology into cycling skinsuits which are sweat-wicking and promote cell regeneration, I hope to promote the habit of cycling as a major mode of transport to all city-goers as it brings numerous benefits to the rider as well as the environment.
hustle
breathe
loud
urbanite
ride
brake
aware
gravel
RESEARCH FABRICATION Italian textile developer Pozzi Electa combined chitosan, a substance derived from crustaceans, with viscose to create crabyon- a sweat-wicking fabric which promotes cell regeneration. CITYPACE uses this technology but substitutes the semi-synthetic viscose with ecovera to make the fabric fully biodegradable.
VINTAGE GARMENTS Since the customer frequently commutes on bicycle, they need to be protected from rain or other weather conditions that cause discomfort. CITYPACE refers to optimal raincoat designs which provide the highest level of protection.
80S HIP HOP CULTURE influenced colour and silhouette
RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT PRINTS primary colour and sinhala and tamil iconography were used as highlights when developing prints and fabrications
FABRICATIOIN rice bags provided the ideal fabric as it is compatible with the primary colour scheme and includes the mixed typography as well
the rice bags served as the main fabric for the raincoat due to its waterproof qualities
DEVELOPMENT front
finalising trims and details through sketching
back
BENCHMARK rains ss 2019 raincoat
FINAL TECHNICAL DRAWING OF RAINCOAT
FINAL LINEUP
RESEARCH
The research into the Kollupitiya community featured in the first publication issue began with collecting vintage photographs and letters which provided background into their lifestyles.
BRANDING
Bindis are a popular accessory within the Kollupitiya neighbourhood. I tried developing a typeface using them. It looked intricate but felt too difficult to read.
Since COTERIE means a ring of people with similar interests, I drew vibrant rings using the Kollupitiya colours and arranged them into letters.
I tried to further expand on the rounded type by outlining the rings to make a solid colour font but it was not refined enough.
RANGE PLAN
publication incense naturally scented incense sticks for uplifting mood and spiritual practices
COTERIE
PLAY SUM
the podcast packaging
TOMBOLA podcast episode cover
reversible tote bag cotton twill bags can be flipped inside out to present an upcycled scarf
THE CUSTOMER Young people, mainly Gen Z, tend to be quite open about talking about their mental wellbeing and demand that brands offer them straightforward options to alleviate their struggles whilst providing joy and feelings of belonging. Gen Z self identifies as the generation that was failed by capitalism. Young consumers firmly believe that an ideal society is a utopian socialist one where everyone is provided the necessary resources instead of being exploited and underpaid (Levitz, 2019). The younger customer is an ardent activist who is invested in providing support to their community. Their generosity extends to their support for small businesses in their locale but they expect these businesses to exhibit sincere morals and beliefs. If a brand’s products do not elicit happiness and do not impact the world in a positive way, the customer will immediately lose interest. With the arrival of the pandemic, these technologically competent customers are seeking innovative means to create connections with others during times of social disconnect. COTERIE caters to these customer expectations by offering mental health support by partnering with local charities, causes they can invest their energy into and products which are ethically made and create revenue for marginalised groups while maintaining sustainable practices.
THE COMmUnity Preme’s face ( pictured) filled with pleasant surprise as his eyes darted to the backseat of the car. He had not seen my grandmother in decades and the two friends were pleased to meet. They spent a few minutes catching up, exchanging news about their respective children and grandchildren.
After exclaiming once more about how nice it was to see her, he then bid us goodbye and continued on his walk to the corner shop.
One landmark used to locate this inconspicuous community is a gated altar of St Anthony which faces the entrance. The other is smaller and stands out less- a metal address plate with the number ‘47’ etched on it. At first glance, The Neighbourhood appears as a straight by-road with housing on either side. But a few meters in, this pathway splits up into a complex array of narrow lanes that twist and turn across this block of land, similar to how blood vessels run across a body’s circulatory system. It is essentially a maze that a non-resident would find near impossible to navigate through on their own.
Pictured left to right: Sellamani and Elizabeth
Bagaa was looking out her window. I knew of her from one my grandmother’s tales. She apparently despises people calling out her name and when my uncle was a little boy he would intentionally try to trigger her. Bagaa had a tendency to mumble curses under her breath when she walks away from arguments and my uncle would hear her when she gets close to his house. When she’s within ear-shot, he would yell out “BAGAA” from his window, in the shrillest voice he could muster before rearranging himself on his bed to pretend like he was fast asleep. Furious, Bagaa would storm inside his house, demanding my uncle’s father to discipline him. The older man would console her but point out that his son has been fast asleep the whole time. After reluctantly believing him, Bagaa would take her leave and this scene would repeat once again the next day and the days after that.
Flip over to the next page to view some vintage photos captured on film from the 70s of my uncle and his friends.
THE COMmUnity
PLAY SUM TOMBOLA ! A stack of tombola cards and pebbles were neatly arranged on the doorstep of neutral green painted house. Tombola is essentially like bingo, with players marking off numbers on their cards by placing a pebble on the squares until five of the numbers which were called out would be achieved through a row, a column or diagonally. It is a gambling game where players put in five rupees per card (some experienced players would play with over two cards at a time) and the winner would take the cash collected from each participant in the beginning. The non-player who calls out the numbers alternates between the same two or three people. Everyone casts a vote to pick the most honest person who is least likely to cheat by picking out numbers on a favoured player’s card. Other popular games are checkers, chonka, and cards.
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publication
The brand ethos of COTERIE revolves around diversity, inclusivity, activism and community. The text within the publication and across all brand touch-points include only sans seriff fonts to allow easier reading for dyslexic people.
EDITOR’s note Hello and welcome, dear reader! How are you feeling right now?
I assume that you might be someone who experiences issues with mental health, care about a loved one who is struggling, or both. Wherever you may be in the sphere of mental health, I am glad that you are here. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making it to the first step- showing up! It takes quite a bit of strength and courage to do that. COTERIE was manifested from a personal place. Learning to navigate the complexities of grief-driven depression and an anxiety disorder has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. The daunting journey of understanding how to manage the every-day turbulence whilst experiencing the ever-present stigma which surrounds mental health which is widespread across South Asian society has been a challenge. Currently enduring my fifth year of living with poor mental health, I realised that there is a lack of intersectional discussion around the topic. The sheer number of other young people I have met who are filled with internalised shame regarding the state of their mental health and seeking professional help is sadly, staggering. It almost seems like a collective societal issue, spurred on by the socio-cultural changes in the modern world. But it is not all doom and gloom! The unconditional support I am provided from my friends, both affected and unaffected, has been a shining light that helps guide me through the roughest days. Having a community, no matter how small, is something I believe every individual should be able to access. Of course, this is easier said than done. The hurdles and barriers stacked against opening up and seeking solace can be daunting. With this publication brand, I want to look back at the past and learn from small yet strongly-connected communities which have prevailed for decades, and provide the readers (and myself) with introspection on how to seek supportive community with similar values like inclusivity and acceptance. So, welcome to COTERIE! I hope that this first issue educates, entertains, and brings you comfort. Take care, and know that you are not alone.
THE EDITOR Navira Dissanayake- mentally ill and has a lot to say
PROMOTIONAL PHOToGRAPHY
Promotional tote bags are made from 100% cotton twill, which is completely biodegradable, and upcycled scarves. Each of these reversible tote bags is a one-of-a-kind, standout accessory which the consumer can use every day to carry a variety of belongings.
Most materials are locally-sourced and recycled paper is used within the publications and all product packaging. The packaging is made using recycled paper composed of pressed jasmine petals and seeds to represent the importance of jasmine within the Kollupitiya community. The customer can “plant� the packaging and grow their own jasmine bush.
packaging
COTERIE is aware that practicing simple, holistic routines whilst seeking professional therapy can be soothing and meditative for the mind. Considering the target customer’s lifestyle, the brand creates incense sticks in a variety of scents. Composed of only natural ingredients, each aromatic blend assists the pursuit of spirituality and targets every mood requirement a customer desires including relaxation or even productivity.
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Coterie is a self published inter-sectional arts and culture publication aiming to bring awareness to mental health by spotlighting community
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NIGHT
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the podcast TOMBOLA
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FA6003 L6 PROJECT 4: PORTFOLIO NAVIRA DISSANAYAKE