Concept development

Our muse Keith is an odd character, with a creepy aesthetic, he has disease which left parts of his face paralysed. This led us to looking medical laboratory coats for ideas on silhouette. Jessica Bachman began developing a range of 'psych' prints using foil on latex, denim, and my knits. I then began researching mental institutions, and what patients were made to wear as protection against themselves, such as straight jackets. I was drawn to the idea of padding for protection. Patients were put in padded cells or made to wear exaggerated padded outfits which were intended to protect patients from themselves. I incorporated this idea by inlaying strips of foam between the beds on the knitting machine, creating a variety of weights and flexibilites within my samples.