New Look: Fashion Sculptures by Steven Vanderyt

A Statement Against Fast Fashion

Steven Vanderyt's collection, aptly named "New Look," is a powerful statement against the commercialism and trend-driven nature of the fast fashion system. With this collection, Vanderyt aims to redefine couture as art and inspire others to slow down fashion and appreciate craftsmanship and love in garments once again.

The unique properties of Vanderyt's designs lie in their ability to merge sculpture and fashion seamlessly. The collection features four human-sized sculptures, each wearing a size 32 garment. These sculptures, standing at around 1.80 meters tall, showcase Vanderyt's mastery of fabric manipulation techniques, including smocking, silkscreen printing, and heavy pleating. The addition of cast resin flowers and interlaced mesh further enhances the artistic appeal of the garments.

Creating this collection presented its fair share of challenges. Vanderyt had to find the perfect balance between sculpture and fashion, ensuring that both elements harmoniously coexisted. Additionally, experimenting with poses and the human body led to a search for the extraordinary, resulting in a collection that pushes the boundaries of traditional couture.

The "New Look" collection was realized between January and June 2016 in Utrecht, as part of Vanderyt's graduation project for the HKU School of Arts. Through extensive research on the history of couture, photography, modern couture, and the fast fashion system, Vanderyt developed a unique perspective that underpins his designs.

Steven Vanderyt's "New Look" collection has garnered recognition in the industry, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category in 2017. This prestigious award celebrates designs that showcase creativity, resourcefulness, and technical prowess, contributing to improvements in quality of life.

With "New Look," Steven Vanderyt challenges the status quo of the fast fashion system and invites us to explore a new way of approaching couture. By merging sculpture and fashion, he redefines couture as art, inspiring others to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship behind each garment.