Fashion - Bachelors

Sweeping Shadows

Awarded

Cameron Votan Award

‘Sweeping Shadows’ encourages one to re-imagine the history of Western Colonisation through switching the roles of labour and luxury between the stereotypical, opulent West and the impoverished South East. This collection twists the history that we know and takes us on a journey of cultural fusion and the emergence of beauty from two unlikely pairings; traditional Filipino wear and British chimney sweep attires. It begins in the bustling heart of a burgeoning Asian metropolis, where the echoes of Filipino traditions reverberate through time. Here, wealthy Filipinos have taken inspiration from the poverty-stricken chimney sweeps of 17th century London. The elaborate, delicate fabrics represent the opulence of a bygone Filipino era and converge with the pragmatic attire of chimney sweepers from the other side of the world. As the story unfolds, these two seemingly disparate elements create a vivid tapestry of contrast and transformation. The fabrics breathe life into Filipino silhouettes, adorned with symbols of restriction, mutation, and contortion, reflecting the experiences of the chimney sweepers in their everyday struggles. Sweeping Shadows invites us to reimagine a world where boundaries blur, where South East meets West, and where fashion becomes a storyteller of unity amidst diversity, a bridge connecting two worlds in an unexpected and harmonious dance."