This project explores clothing as a reflection of a person’s inner world and individual interests, through a collection of experimental ‘anti-bland’ costumes. The work draws inspiration from historical dress, ceremonial outfits, talismanic shirts, battle armour, cubist costume paintings and theatre.

Informed by research into ornamentation and embellishment in historical clothing, and how these details communicate symbolic information and personal narratives about the wearer. The anti-bland armour reflects this idea of wearing information through symbols and text, using my own archive of observations and photographs of overlooked and found items. Examples include bits of metal, a car manual on a concrete floor and a wonky number nine painted on the street. Elements from these observations have been translated, rearranged, and abstracted using analogue methods to create unusual compositions, patterns and symbols that link to my inner world through paper and metal-based costumes.