Surface Experimentation | Sculptural Garments
Degeneration is a series of three sculptural garments that explore the gradual erosion of a natural habitat under external pressure. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, the collection traces a narrative of transformation from vitality to decay, reflecting how one life form’s actions can lead to the destruction of another. Each ensemble represents a distinct stage of decline, progressing in the order of events from the story—beginning with a flourishing garden and ending in lifelessness after it is closed off. Through layered textures, distressed surfaces, and evolving silhouettes, the work examines selfishness, environmental imbalance, and the slow, irreversible process of loss.
Bloom Excess"
A cropped rexine jacket with a front zipper, paired with a voluminous tulle skirt featuring 2,250 handmade laser-cut floral appliqués. Each flower is crafted from raw silk, layered, laser-cut, and stitched at the centre to create sculptural volume and a three-dimensional effect across the garment.
"Slow Rot"
An asymmetrical suede cape featuring layered surface embellishments that explore texture and decay. Laser-cut suede flowers, developed using the same three-dimensional technique as the previous garment, are combined with leaf-shaped appliqués cut from green-to-brown suede to symbolise gradual deterioration. The entire piece is crushed and washed to create a raw, dry finish, evoking the texture and fragility of a dying tree bark.
"Pressed Remains"
A corset peplum top with tulle ruffles at the hemline, paired with a raw silk pencil skirt. The peplum is formed by heat-pressing silk satin in a thermostatic setup, creating a surface pattern inspired by dead flowers. The fabric was bonded and carefully ironed before pressing, with temperature closely monitored throughout to prevent damage. The resulting texture captures the delicate tension between preservation and decay, translating fragile botanical remnants into structured form.
