Final year project
Floral Construct: Cultivating beauty in adaptive design [Read more]
Floral Construct adaptive sleeve
This digitally printed top design features an adaptive sleeve which allows diabetic wearers to access an insulin pump site on the arm when needed. Easy movement of the sleeve was created by a self-drafted pattern utilising pleats, slits and poppers.
Floral Construct detachable sleeve
Designed to allow access of the arm for those with health conditions and medical devices, and easy undressing for wearers with disabilities, this top features a full circle zip around the armhole. The design also features free machine embroidery, pleating and decorative top stitching.
Floral Construct leaf bodice
Exploring transparency and stitch texture, this digitally embroidered bodice embodies the elegance of the collection. Intended to be applied to an adaptive garment, the design demonstrates the attention and care that should be paid to the aesthetics of clothing for wearers with health conditions and disabilities.
Floral Construct concealed pocket
This design demonstrates a textiles solution for wearing medical devices. A pocket, fitting the specifications of the most-used insulin pump devices, is concealed by a hand stitched fringe incorporated into a floral design, which was created by flower hammering and free machine embroidery.
Floral Construct translucent blooms
Exploring contrasts between the linear and the natural, while taking inspiration from the elements of transparency and layering of architecture and flora in the RHS Wisley Gardens' Glasshouse, this sample layers pleated muslin (naturally dyed with turmeric) onto free machine embroidered cotton.
Floral Construct linear chrysanthemums
This sample was digitally embroidered with flowers developed from thorough drawing research, and embellished with hand stitched fringe details.
Floral Construct glasshouse in bloom
Inspired by drawings, paintings and photography of the intersection of greenhouse architecture, windows and plants, and their sense of depth and transparency, this sample layers pleated muslin, dyed with dandelion petals and digitally embroidered with dense stitching, and recycled sheer fabric, digitally embroidered with zigzag stitches.
Floral Construct visualisations
These drawings were developed to contextualise the collection, embodying the concepts and colour palette of the project, and demonstrating how the designs and the colours used have been developed from thorough research and experimentation through drawing, painting and photography.
Bethany Davies
Bethany is a passionate fashion textiles designer, dedicated to bringing beauty and enhanced wellbeing to those living with long term health conditions through her designs.
The collection 'Floral Construct' aims to cultivate beauty in adaptive clothing for people with disabilities and health conditions. This purpose derived from Bethany's unique experiences and perspectives on the need for greater inclusivity of people with health conditions in the fashion industry. Her work explores the importance of the contrasting qualities of aesthetics and functionality, marrying the two together to create adaptive clothing solutions that support health and wellbeing, while still allowing aesthetic expression and attractive design. Her work has been strongly supported by her skills in drawing, painting and photography, and benefits from her highly refined skills in hand, machine and digital embroidery and garment construction. She brings close observation and attention to detail to all of her work.
Dissertation
Functional fibres: Design and innovation in the field of biomedical textiles
Final year project
Floral Construct: Cultivating beauty in adaptive design
Experience
Bethany worked under costume and set designer Kate Unwin, with the touring theatre company Moving Stories, at the Minack Theatre, Cornwall, in June 2016. During their performance of Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale', she held the role of wardrobe assistant, responsible for the maintenance of the costumes. She also designed and constructed one of the costumes for the performances. She gained valuable experience from shadowing Kate Unwin, and developed strong teamwork and communication skills.
Placements
June 2019 - September 2019
Digital Print Design Intern, Mirjam Rouden