Model: Sandy Litchfield
The 1960s was a decade characterized at once by intense optimism, as seen by our explorations into space which culminated in the 1969 moon landing, as well as a deep sense of paranoia, with the backdrop of the cold war and the specter of nuclear destruction.
This duality reminds of our current race to colonize Mars, while neglecting the planet we already have, and of the great potential but also ethical dangers of biotechnology. These ideas serve as inspiration for this garment and collection.
Like how in the 1960s we turned our eyes to the stars, we have now turned our eyes inwards, to the galaxies within us. My "Voyager", like the spacecrafts that first allowed us to roam the stars, is a vessel that carries life. However, whether we abuse or respect this life will tell whether we will thrive or ultimately be consumed.
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Photographers: Julie and Snowden Blue.
To realize my vision I borrowed the visual language from the 1960s space race, 2001 Space Odyssey, as well as fashion designers from the 1960s, such as Cardin, who fetishized the functional and sleek, both of which are hallmarks of space exploration and the military.
The three deep pockets, at the side and front, were inspired by mathematical models of black holes and orchids. The pockets are built into the jacket, instead of just being attachments, as a means of mirroring the paneling of spacecrafts and having them feel like a truly integrated part of the body.
The silk slip was soaked in sugar water and had live mycelium, the vegetative structure of a mushroom, grown on it. Mycelium has the ability to consume any organic material. My choice to work with mycelium as inspired by the research I conducted on mycelium at the NASA Ames Research Center in 2018.
Selected sketchbook pages.
Jacket drapes and pattern development.
Jacket Final Patterns.
Undergarment drapes and pattern development.
Mycelium grown for MYCO for Mars (left), Mycelium grown on silk fabric (right).
For my proposed collection, "Voyagers", I wanted each look to tell a part of the story of my imagined journey to space. Each "voyager" is designed to inhabit a specific environment: from the the initial liftoff to the battle against cosmic radiation to harsh new planetary environments. Each look applies technological elements in a whimsical and playful way. While not intending to be entirely realistic, I hope they can bring forward questions about how technology can be incorporated into clothing and how our clothes interface with our bodies and our environments.
Proposed collection, breakdown of each individual look.
This garment was made during the semester Covid19 disrupted our lives. I am truly grateful to have had the support of my family and neighbors during this difficult time.
