My collection is inspired by the film American Beauty, which takes place in suburban America. The film focuses on themes of materialism and appearance versus reality. The protagonist, Lester Burnham, is surrounded by people who are trapped by the ideology of the American dream. By the use of artificial fabrics such as plastics and silicone, my collection follows Lester’s journey of escapism. My garments are derived from stand-work, in which

I distorted the traditional look of a garment as a means of conveying his challenge to break away from the constraints of mundane suburban living. The red rose is a symbol used throughout my collection to highlight the false realities that Lester is forced to overcome.

Work Placement

Zoe Jordan, London