Helen Protheroe

‘From the Cradle to the Grave’ is a Ready to Wear ’23 Graduate Collection’ drawing upon the idea of the home, looking at the ‘urban nomad’ and what happens when we take away the comfort of shelter and the familiar. Further exploration of the roles given to our parents/carers as protectors and mentors and how this can be depicted through garments. My collection aims to embody a sense of comfort through textile application and exaggerated silhouettes.

Nomadic society’s have no permanent place of settlement. Exploring the relationship they have with clothes, the sentiment that wear brings a greater sense of character. I further wanted to look at the process of ageing and how garments signify different stages of our lives looking and the idea of how “objects surrounded by natural change, become unique over time based on external factors”. The wear and tear of a garment gives it a character and personality, looking at how ready to wear can incorporate a sense of pristine style but with sentimental values. I want the wearer to feel wrapped up, protected and sheltered referring back to these keywords within my design process.