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Karina Frances Edmonds

Central Saint Martins

Karina Frances, born and raised amidst the forests of Mexico and Canada, is a Central Saint Martins Womenswear designer dedicated to redefining the future of apparel through a multidisciplinary design approach. By merging biology, art, design, and technology, and applying regenerative design principles and bio-integrated systems, she crafts garments that foster a seamless symbiosis between the human body and the natural world. Karina’s work envisions apparel not merely to be worn but lived in as an extension of the body and the natural world.

Website

CYTO

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025

Through a microscopic study of cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, CYTO presents a speculative wearable symbiotic portal, weaving together the cellular worlds of plants and animals across dimensions of time and space. Handcrafted techniques mimic machine precision, reflecting this duality and creating an intimate interconnection on the wearer’s body. CYTO nurtures a seamless, circular bond with nature, where cellular units echo the fluidity of the wearer’s epidermis. Plotted across the body, cellular “warps” intertwine the rigid structure of plant cells with the dynamic fluid mosaic model of animal membranes, forming a transcendent cosmic cellular tapestry. Inspired by the fabric model of time, this work envisions a garment that lives and breathes as an extension of the wearer, blurring boundaries between biology and design. As fabrication processes evolve, CYTO reimagines the future of 3D printing through a handcrafted approach that emulates machine-like precision and structural integrity. Using cellulose pulp extracted from textile waste and drawing from ancient papier-mâché techniques, each cell is meticulously sculpted and dehydrated into place. Over 700 hours of symmetric, meditative assembly across three months formed an intricate matrix tapestry. CYTO bridges traditional craft and advanced fabrication technologies, reinterpreting future methods and regenerative design through the power of human-made, handcrafted work—celebrating the synergy between nature, technology, and the human touch.

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.