Damaged Goods

Damaged Goods is a collection that summarises both the personal and technical journey of the designer. Picking yourself up often and pushing forward through the difficult times often feels like you are stitching back together something that is broken – but it does not mean that it is no longer beautiful and full of purpose. This collection is in no way a conclusion to that journey, but rather a reminder that it is only the beginning that will not end. The term ‘damaged goods’ has traditionally been used to describe something no longer in perfect condition. In this collection, it refers to how even if something is not ‘perfect’ or if you have hit a road bump, it does not mean that is worthless. In fact, it is simply something that has been given a second life, a new start.

For me specifically, this collection means a lot to me, as it was born from literally nothing: I was reaching the end of my second year, but I felt like I was in a state of being back at square one, like a new student again. My mentality was crushed, my self-esteem non-existent. My teachers had a meeting with me, and I will never forget that day, as it felt like I was handed a seed, and them saying “We believe in you, but you need to believe in yourself, and only you can do that.” From that moment, the year 2020 I was determined to grow and improve, I may have taken three steps back, but that inspired me to take a hundred steps forward. In a way, without that experience, I may have not gotten as far as I did.

From the complete basics of the collection to the end, I was responsible. I drew a completely unique designs to be printed on fabric, I draped toiles using the most insane silouhettes, I added boning to one of my garments, and I learnt embroidery to add to my garments to further push the conceptulisation of “repair”. I wanted my garments to be raw, yet beautiful, even from a sustainable perspective - if others see that patching up clothing with embroidery, or having contrast stitching visisble on their garments can still look amazing, it will encourage viewers to think repairing is better than discarding damaged clothing.

Despite the COVID-19 regulation, in the end a four-look collection was created and completed: three dresses and a set compromising of shorts and blouse.