Emma Ahmet crowdfunding with Kubacker

Fragile Armour- Graduate Collection

A summary of my project

“Fragile Armour” is a deeply personal graduate fashion collection that delves into my own journey with my body image and strength. I grew up with a condition formally called Pectus Excavatum, in which my ribs grew inwards, limiting space for my heart and lungs. My sunken ribs caused significant distress in my teenage years and massively affected the way I viewed clothes. I love fashion, but I use it as an armour to hide my body instead of celebrating it. Since having a complex surgery in 2019, I have grown to love my body and the way that fashion allows people to express themselves through clothing.

Drawing inspiration from the beautiful fragility of pressed flowers, a practice I loved as a child. By preserving a beautiful object, squishing it down, and making it paper thin and distorted, it can be looked at and observed forever. Pressed flowers can serve as a metaphor for how many women in society feel about their own body image and how we are forced into tiny spaces for others observation. Through layering sheer textures and modular functionality (in which the wearer can choose which parts of the body to show) the collection aims to reflect the nuanced interplay between identity, perception, and self-expression, transforming perceived vulnerabilities into strengths.

About me

I am a 23 year old final year fashion student at Kingston School of Art. I'm deeply passionate about sustainability in fashion and I love exploring second-hand vintage shops. Through my studies and personal endeavours, I aspire to contribute to a more sustainable and ethical future for the fashion world.

Where will the money go?

Having dedicated my placement year to unpaid internships, financing my degree journey has been challenging. Now, as I approach the culmination of my studies, I seek support to finance the photoshoot for my final collection. This photoshoot is not just a formality but a pivotal moment to showcase the culmination of my creative journey. Your assistance would not only alleviate financial strain but also enable me to present my work in the best possible light, marking a fitting finale to my degree. Any support provided would be immensely appreciated and would contribute significantly to my aspirations in the fashion industry.

My budget is:

Photographer - £200

Models - £100

Studio space - £200

Rewards

I would love to send prints of the outcomes from the photoshoot to anyone who donates!
To make best use of the fabric scraps from my collection I will make tote bags for donations over £20.