Fashion Design

Nino O’Connell

‘BODICE RIPPER’

This collection, titled ‘Bodice Ripper’ was inspired by a folktale of Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 955, called ‘Bobby Rag’.

The folktale tells the story of a poor girl who is stolen for marriage by a rich man, who then tries to be rid of her, resulting in retribution. The visuals which were collected to illustrate this story are grotesque and sublime, two areas that are wed beyond the realm of ordinary limits or experience.

The corporeal and immaterial parts of the folktale informed the processes used to design the collection. These include draping on the stand, creating sheets of latex, applying latex to fabric, silkscreen printing, life casting and working with resin. Tailoring and draping were used in contrast, to illustrate the conflict in the folktale. The folktale and visuals inspired the appropriation of the pejorative ‘Bodice Ripper’ as title, and how it might be used to describe something beyond ourselves.

Work Experience: Ninamounah Amsterdam

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