Animal Instincts
Category: Apparel
Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025
Animal Instincts is a project which takes a satirical look at the need for women to protect themselves from others. I aimed to make a humorous piece which functioned as a caricature, imagining a world where women have to wear armour to protect themselves. Using leather I created body armour which protects the wearer by creating a barrier around them. I took inspiration from Victorian caricatures which mocked women's fashion trends by over exaggerating the style and drawing comparisons to animals. I wanted to oppose these sexist tones by creating my own caricature. Instead of comparing animals in a mocking way I took features from different animals that are advantageous to them to create a powerful armour. Victorian caricatures often mocked crinolines as men didn’t like that crinolines allowed women to take up physical space in society, while denying men access to them. I really liked this idea of building a cage around a woman for protection so decided to create armour that would build out from the body forming a barrier. I took inspiration from armoured animals (such as armadillos) and crinolines to inform the construction and appearance of my garment. The result was a powerful armour which aims to protect, intimidate and empower. I made an accompanying sheer trouser to juxtapose the strength and rigidity of the leather armour. The trouser is meant to suggest fragility and vulnerability, with the construction reflecting the shape of the armour, so when unsupported the trouser drapes and folds. I believe my piece is very unique as historically armour was to protect men in battle, whereas this armour is focused on protecting women in daily life. I wanted this work to be lighthearted and humorous, by over exaggerating a solution to a very real issue today. I hoped to spark conversation and reflection in people, while also creating a functional, wearable piece. Sustainability was central to the design of my garment which is why I chose to work with natural materials such as leather and silk. I used waste materials that would have otherwise been discarded, using donated dead stock leather and scrap leathers from previous students' projects. For the trouser I chose to use sheer silk, as it draped beautifully and allowed the armour to be seen underneath. It is also a natural, biodegradable fabric which will break down after it is discarded. To further the sustainability and functionality of my armour I added moveable elements, allowing the piece to be worn around the body. I used metal rivets and fastenings to allow the garment to move and be secured to different areas. At the end of the garment's life the rivets can be removed allowing the materials to be separated and recycled. However, my hope is the choice of such a sturdy material, as my thick cowhide leather, will allow the garment to last for many years before it has to be retired.
