Lizzie Waters

Acknowledge

My final collection is about inclusion and my aim is to make a collection that any woman of any body size, any shape, any ethnicity feels she can wear. I believe the fashion industry strongly lacks in diversity and representation of models and that this could easily change but brands aren’t doing enough with their privilege of their platforms. I have struggled with my body shape not fitting into to skirts, trousers, dresses, it wasn’t always easy to buy clothes and I used to think there was something wrong with me – until my type of body shape became fashionable. But a body shape or image shouldn’t have to be on trend for women to feel comfortable and happy with their bodies, the fashion industry should have been representing all body types and not favoured one over another. Due to Covid-19 I will be modelling my collection, I don’t find it easy to buy clothes that will fit both my waist and hips, which is why I can still be a good image for the point I am trying to make – that every body shape is beautiful and your body does not limit what you can wear. If I were in industry with my own business, making this collection to sell, I would be taking measurements from clients and making made to measure clothing, which is also a more sustainable way to make clothing rather than mass producing.

Denims and stretch net are a strong fabric theme throughout my collection. The use of the stretch net is important within my collection because you can see through it, which helps me show that my collection stands for women being in charge of how they dress and what parts of their body they want to show. It is also important because it stretches, as a woman I find stretch clothing far more comfortable than anything woven, stretch also fits or stretches to suit different body shapes, which gives women a vote of confidence that they won’t purchase something that ends up being too small. The denim then contrasts this material; I needed a contrast within the materials because not only does it bring certain details out when the outfit is finalised, it also helps me display a clear imbalance through the contrast in the materials – for example having a stretch net top and then denim jeans. I want to show an imbalance to represent my research and personal feelings to how inequalities of the sexes can be subtle things we may not think about, even though they’re right in front of us every single day.

I am all for female empowerment, and this collection is a feminist collection. The word ‘feminism’ or ‘feminist’ has been made into such a negative word just so that women, or men, feel uncomfortable to say they are a feminist. It took me a good 18 years to realise I am a feminist, ‘a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.’ (Adichie) and that it wasn’t a bad thing. I also realised that a lot of the things I have done have been controlled by men or subconsciously by society or the thought of the ‘male gaze’. This collection is a way for me to express that I am a feminist, and that I am not ashamed to be a feminist; because what is wrong with wanting equality for women?