BFA Fashion Design Sophomore: Petra Fagerstorm
Drawing from the work of Cristobal Balenciaga and Rei Kawakubo, BFA Fashion Design Sophomore Petra Fagerstorm created a project inspired by the methods of these two great masters. She analyzed Balenciaga’s unique construction and Kawakubo’s interpretation of men’s tailoring and Japanese perception of the body in space.
To explore these topics, Petra conducted interviews with two women about what makes them feel empowered. Meanwhile she draped a vintage suit on the body, adapting the shape to their answers. One interviewee felt empowered when focus is shifted from her body to her personality and voice, therefore preferring to wear looks that are oversized which distorts her silhouette. Others felt empowered when showing more of their bodies, as a means of taking control. The challenge was to combine these two interviews into one look. Resulting in a garment that from one angle hides the body of the wearer and in turn reveals the female form as the garment moves.
