Fashence

What is your vision of textile futures?
Textiles of the future will move the boundaries of acceptance to allow for an understanding of textiles in a broader sense. I see the future of textiles coming from within the fibres of our being. Skin, a truly sustainable material, is our largest organ. It is the threshold between ourselves and the world, and a great medium of expression. Effectively a form of human textile, skin is the way forward to new areas of textile fabrication.

What is your project about?
Technologies transferred from forensic science to fashion create a future fashion and textiles extravagance. Fashion and science coincide to simulate a future vision in which if time travel will be possible. Drawing on forensic science, my collection may be what we would recover from expeditions to future worlds.

What inspires you?
Limitless worlds of fancy and imagination. I like to see happiness in the faces of those who enjoy my work. Colour, light, pattern and movement are key to my philosophy. My connection with future textiles in relation to Haute Couture is surface enhancement.

Why are you doing this project? What does it mean to you?
Haute Couture is all about fantasy, escapism, exploring the range of possibilities beyond reality and, most importantly, an innovative response to future fashion needs and desires. Fashence demonstrates this with a magical element. To me, it’s imperative to dream, to be able to escape the ‘norm’ in terms of environment and mindset to deal with life, especially for those in pain or sadness.

What is ‘future’ about it?
Challenging yesterday’s vision of the future. Incorporating into couture fashion cutting-edge advances in the technologies of forensic science. Fashence looks at alternative forms of fashion and textiles that could take place in the future, pushing innovation and invention.

Which materials and technologies have you used?
Adhesives, Angelina and Crystalina fibres, Dyestuffs, Expantex, Flock, Foils, Fur, Glitters, Human Hair, Latex, Leather, Metallic and UV yarns, Pearlescent and metallic Binders, Photochromics, Pigments, Thermochromics, Silk, Swarovski Crystals and some Synthetics, Decorative cutting, Devore, Digital printing, Embroidery, Hand finishing, Hand painting, Hand sewing, Silk screen printing.

Fiona Dewson
Fiona studied at The Scottish College of Textiles to receive her BSc (Hons) in Textile and Fashion Design Management in 2003. After graduating Fiona started working with private clients on specially made-to-measure fashion pieces while continuing to work with freelance contacts, creating print and fashion designs for retailers such as John Lewis and La Boheme Boutique, on her year out from studying before joining the MA Design for Textile Futures course at Central Saint Martins College in 2004.

Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to my family and friends for their endless encouragement, Sarah Friend at Swarovski for her continued support and mentoring, Jan Gilbert in the role of Forensic Expert for her knowledge and advice throughout the year and glass artist Mercedes Altuna for her assistance in realising my ideas through glass pieces.

Sponsored by:
SWAROVSKI Crystal Components