Amy Cottrell Graduate Booklet

Plasticity explores our relationship with the man-made substance that was once strongly associated with progress and is now held responsible for major environmental damage. Transparent plastics have often been used in fashion to communicate futurism (Borelli-Persson 2019), ironic considering the future of plastics is in doubt. In nature, plasticity describes how organisms have the ability to adapt, changing their form and function (Skipper et al 2010), to fit into a harsh and challenging world. This collection reflects on the idea that while manmade development and progress is exciting, it comes at a cost and is creating overwhelming challenges, particularly in the form of climate change. Just like insects that have adapted of hundreds of thousands of years to changing elements, it is essential that we learn to adjust to new conditions in order to survive and likewise, the use of plastics also needs to adapt and change as we move forwards. With more than 50% of textiles containing some form of plastic, the urgent search is on for a more sustainable way to clothe the world (Usborne 2019). Plasticity explores the use of recycled and repurposed plastics to create beautiful feminine garments, as well as the use of bioplastics, as a way of redefining the use of plastics within the modern world.

The Plasticity collection acknowledges that change can be difficult and in order to move forward with hope and harmony, things that are important to us, such as warmth, joy, knowledge, treasures from our past, and freedom, remain a part of our progress. Plasticity embraces a balance between fluidity, movement and freedom with an underlying structure, rigidity and constraint which provides protection and an essential foundation for expression, adaptability and evolution, allowing the future to become filled with possibilities.

Change requires bravery, strength of character, innovation, and dreams of something better or new and the Plasticity collection represents this for the modern, daring, risk taker. The use of innovative techniques and recycled plastic create structured bodices and protective shells, unique textures and opportunities for reflective light. Despite being manmade, the pieces reflect the beauty of nature and create a sense of flow or movement bringing life to the collection. The shimmery light reflecting off plastic that represents running water, creating a sense of fluidity and freedom is juxtaposed against structured lines and a sense of underlying strength. Effortless elegance and beauty underpinned by stability and structure is reflective of classical dancers that mould and reshape themselves constantly as a way to express themselves to their audience.

In the Plasticity collection, excitement is created by similar contrasts, where natural meets manmade, structure meets free flowing, hard meets soft and movement meets stability.

Plasticity provides an opportunity to break free from constraints, it is a way to push boundaries and strive for something better. Organic elements that reflect the natural environment, created out of structured manmade elements, represent a sense of resilience and survival. Panels of ruffles and textures create a sense of movement that contrasts with the unyielding stability of solid panels in heavier, more structured materials such as plastic and stiffened fabrics, which provide a sense of protection and overall, a futuristic sense of beauty and wonder.

market placement

Plasticity is for women who are strong, spirited, and individual. The Plasticity woman is intelligent and has strong ideas and ethics, she values environmental responsibility and refuses to compromise her love for luxury fashion to achieve this. She is successful professionally, is very social, keeps active, is well travelled, takes fashion seriously, prides herself on her choices and likes to stay ahead of the trends. She covets beautiful and unique pieces and values quality and innovation. She loves exploring fashion trends and ideas. She also enjoys looking at vintage consignment and new emerging designers as a source of unique pieces.

The Plasticity collection is made to stand against modern day couture, bringing a cool edge to more traditional and elaborate couture while at the same

time being recognised for a strong social conscience and a leader in finding sustainable solutions in fashion. The vibrant colours of the bioplastic contrast against warm earthy tones and the effortless style of this collection is sure to appeal to the modern, confident and stylish woman that appreciates the detail and craftmanship of high-quality, unusual pieces. The collection brings a sense of opulence and optimism, a positivity and fearlessness and an escape to a new more futuristic world where we live in harmony with plastics. Made from bioplastics, pineapple leather and other unusual materials, and paired with natural fibres such as silk and linen, with original prints and intricate hand embellished detailing, these pieces are made to remain a wardrobe favourite for many seasons to come.

Key Colours

Ethereal Tints

Neutrals

Colour palette

Ethereal tints derived from natural sources and neutrals tones combined with metallics create this harmonious colour palette for Plasticity.

Development

The innovation of sustainable and unusal materials brings real value to this collection, exploring new forms of plastic and their diverse use discovered through experimentation.

Bioplastic Development natural dyes Blueberries

boot sample

bioplastic bag first sample first samples experimenting with recipies, dyes and drying times

Print created from imageof bioplastic sample

eyelet details on each petal

melted plastic beads to hang off eyelets

lifted during drying process to allow edges to curl once dry

Bioplastic skirt Development

stitched onto belt withexposed zip closure

Arthropod mini skirt

Deadstock sheer fabrication featuring silicon applique and pineapple leather buckle fastening

Body one

Odonata top

Recycled plastic melted into beads creating strands

Larva Crop

Original print strapples cropped bodice featuring a pineapple leather buckle fastening

Arthropod pant

Deadstock sheer fabrication featuring silicon applique and invisible zip closure

Body two

hexopoda bodice

Molded bodice constructed from silks using a paper mache technique

Oyin skirt

Bioplastic petals with natural dyes constructed together using eyelets and attached onto nude fabric base

Mantodea bodysuit

Recycled lycra featuring bioplastic inspired print

Body three

Cimex jacket

Pineapple leather featuring exposed open zip fastening and multiple pockets and panel details

Bio Belt

Bioplastic belt with pineapple leather buckle fastening

miridae skirt

Asymmetrical pleated skirt using high quality silk fabrication

miridae pant

Pleated wide leg pants

The collection

Taking cues from the hard exteriors of insects combined with the beauty of movement, Plasticity provides an edgy elegance in it’s unique custom pieces.

Plasticity collection was presented as part of Melbourne Fashion Week’s student Runway October 2022

Borelli-Persson L (2019 Inspired by Craig Green’s Fall 2019 Lineup, a Look at Fantastic Plastics in Fashion. Vogue, article, viewed 20/6/2022, https://www.vogue.com/article/trace-a-trend-plas tics-in-fashion-craig-green

Skipper M, Weiss U and Gray N (2010) Plasticity, Nature, Vol 465 Issue no. 7299, 10 June 2010, article viewed 20/6/2022, https://www.nature.com/articles/465703a.pdf

Usborne S (2019) The big fashion fight: can we remove all the toxic plastic from our clothes? The Guardian, article viewed 30/6/2022, https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/jul/16/the-bigfashion-fight-can-we-remove-all-the-toxic-plastic-from-our-clothes

References image References

Angkatavanich V (2015) Siamese fighting fish on black background [image] viewed 16/6/2022, https://500px.com

ImaxTree (2018) Iris Van Herpen couture details [image] accessed 16/6/2022, https://www.living ly.com/runway/Iris+Van+Herpen/Couture+Fall+2018/Details/4sYCSRky9UM

Kumbhglass (2022) light pendant [image] accessed 18/6/2022, https://kumbhglass.theshop.jp/

MOMA(2022)Gaetano Pesce. Pratt Chair 1984 [image] viewed 16/6/2022, https://www.moma. org/collection/works/87278

Morgan D (2013) Wayne Mc Gregor’s Chroma with melissa Hamilton and Edward Watson [im age] accessed 16/6/2022, https://cultur3w4rr1or.tumblr.com/

Platyrhopalopsis mellei (2015) [image] accessed 16/6/2022, https://dunyadanbirhaber-com/ren kleriyle-kendilerine-hayran-birakan-canlilar/?_x_tr_sl=tr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

Robson A (2009) Liquid Asset, artwork made from PET bottles [image] viewed 16/6/2022, https:// www.aurorarobson. com/sculpture

Sundsbo S (2009) Guinevere Van Seenus [image] accessed 20/6/2022, https://solve-sundsbo. livejournal.com/

ABout

Amy Cottrell is a Melbourne based fashion designer that creates unique pieces by merging the use of unusual and recycled materials and innovative construction techniques and technologies with traditional artisanal techniques. Feminine, with a touch of glamour, elegance and a modern seductive edge, each piece is designed to make the wearer feel special, to stand out in the crowd. Her experimentation led to an innovative collection that was awarded the Student Award 2022 at Melbourne Fashion Week. She strongly believes that sustainability should form the foundation of all design and provides opportunities for exploring new frontiers in fashion.

Amy is a passionate driven person who is constantly wanting to learn more and gain new skills.