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Formal / Couture 55 portfolio items

Restraint as authorship

Katrina Kan

RMIT University Melbourne

After completing a PhD in brain cancer research, I entered fashion questioning my purpose as a designer. Initially, I thought my graduate collection would be visually extravagant. In fact, I realised I had constantly relied on aesthetic for validation throughout my time at fashion school, yet my pursuit of meaning had not been fulfilled. So, I exercised restraint: no machinery and embellishment that had previously occupied my attention. Only the material, process and labour remained. Every garment originates from one square of silk organza, folded with discipline and constructed entirely by hand. What remained when all the noise was removed? All studio photography (01-07, 11-13, 17, 18, 23-25, 29, 30, 37-41) by Jack de Marie Smith (@jack_de_marie_smith). Talent: Martina Wylie (Look 1; @martinawyliestudio), Arlen Mahon (Look 2; @arlzlm_), John Ives (Look 3; @johnives_).

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