Are We Chikwenzi Chikuru Chekushongera Vakadzi

Press Kit

Unique Properties

ARE WE is a collection to create awareness on the damages made by human towards the marine world and inspired through an article, highlighted a past experiment, Biosphere2 failed due to eco-balance and proved impossible to build an EARTH. Designs highlighted on the beauty of nature with the blending of coral system and wave onto garment. Each handmade coral structured detail is originally created through development. The masterpiece has about 300 pieces of detailed handmade coral attached.

Dimensions & Packaging

Ready-to-wear garment with fully lightweight fabric, including silk-textured shinny fabric, gradient coloured organza and soft netting fabric. Main silhouettes drafted with loose fit and layering attachment applied as well as hand-crafted detailing.

Tags

Ocean, 0712, Mini Collection, Love Ocean, Save the Planet, Marine World, Sea Life, Flow, Movement

Production Technology

Made of lightweight silky organza to create the flow flares with the multiple layering inserted. Layers attached with neat workmanship and gentle handling on soft base netting. The hand-crafted coral-like ornament is innovated and transform from hardness to softness creations. With the detailed handcrafting, ornaments was hand-stitched one by one.

Design Challenge

A past biological experiment that strongly reflecting that human impossible to build 2nd earth. Designer then blended a link to nature, highlight that ocean as the great contributors of oxygen to the planet and coral reef recorded as the largest habitat for smaller marine living organism to live. With abstraction of finding and developing elements enriched the ideas and stimulated new creation of coral-inspired ornament in detail handcrafted.

Research

The use of WabiSabi to reflect the sense of naturally imperfection. Andres Juniper said that, If an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be WabiSabi. In design, the concept of Wabi Sabi can also be adopted, By slowing down our design processes and embracing the incomplete and imperfection which able to achieve entirely new level of beauty. The garment carry more meaning as they are unique and share a story as well as invite customers to add to that story.

Inspiration

Are We, by questioning ourselves, are the most intelligent group, HUMAN, the actual pest to this planet. With the initial researched on Biosphere2, a past experiment, American Earth System science research facility. It announced the failure due to the loss control of eco-balance within the enclosed ecological system which aimed to build a second Earth. Designer link it with marine world to reflect, intelligence is to protect not destroy, through the highlights on its beauty and contribution.

Project Duration

The project (Mini Collection Module, Raffles University) started at May 2021 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and finished in August 2021. It is presented as the fashion showcase of Raffles Student through Facebook live.

Operation Flow

Designer decided to highlight on the beauty of nature instead of keep telling people their mistakes. Realising the beauty will make people more willing to accept the current pollution that had been made by themselves and as a reminder to protect and save the planet. The ideas of highlights marine as the main focus point as it build the majority of planet area and contributed as the oxygen generators to most of the organisms which would known as valued contributors and coral reef act as the habitat for most of the smaller sized organism in the sea.

Image Credits

Main Image: Photographer Katharine Chai, Hug the Ocean, 2021.
Optional Image #1: Photographer Katharine Chai, Hug the Ocean, 2021.
Optional Image #2: Photographer Katharine Chai, Wave Hug, 2021.
Optional Image #3: Photographer Katharine Chai, Coral in the Wave, 2021.
Optional Image #4: Photographer Katharine Chai, Feel the Coral and Wave, 2021.