Fashion Design

Neasa Egan

“this ability”

My collection “this ability” is designed to reflect part of my personal experience of growing up cerebral palsy. My collection juxtaposes ideas of restriction and mobility, by creating pieces that distort and impede on the traditional movements of the body.  The clothes created, aim to challenge how the human body functions and is presented.

The use of casting bandage and carbon fibre reflect the construction of the orthotic boots I wore throughout my childhood which are used in the treatment of cerebral palsy. These boots act in a paradoxical way creating mobility by forcing constraint, by stretching out the hyper tensed muscles caused by the condition. The use of these materials in both their solid, moulded forms and malleable cloth state, reflects this conflict. 

I reused the Velcro straps and buckles from my collection of these boots, as closure details on my garments, to bring to whole journey from my original source to inspired design, full circle. I took my shape and silhouette inspiration from my own medical gait analysis videos and translated the movement of my walking into my pieces. I wanted to channel these static movements, into something artistic, challenging my own relationship with my view of the disability.

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