About Me
I am an experimental menswear designer, with an interest in metalwork
Amy Pollard is an experimental menswear designer who specialises in wax and bronze casting. From being neurodiverse she utilises different senses such as touch and sound. These elements combined, create a sensory diverse experience for the viewer. For this project, she was sponsored by YKK for all trims used.
PRIMAL EMOTION was inspired by the emotions rage and sadness, and how in society we are forced to supress these. It has been very important for me to push myself out of my comfort zone. Throughout this collection I experimented with wax and bronze casting. The process of melting metal to such a high temperature, that it changes its form, followed by forcibly encapsulating it in a container, results in beauty. This ideology is echoed within the collection, by embracing powerful emotion in this process beauty is created.
INSPIRATION
The energy behind PRIMAL EMOTION – why we should embrace powerful emotion
The concept behind this project was fuelled by a personal situation which resulted in an extreme emotional reaction. To manage with this situation, I turned to different senses. I was inspired by the gig culture in Norwich, as the energy in the mosh pits fired the energy behind PRIMAL EMOTION. In particular, when in a mosh pit, the feeling can only be described as intense. I wanted this feeling to be portrayed in my work, as it relates to the emotions that are not socially acceptable to be expressed.
To demonstrate this energy, I enjoy the fragility of objects, as when smashed they release emotion. In my design process I created a plaster sheet and drew my designs upon it. I smashed this and used the fragments to create new designs. Through use of metalwork, I was fixated on the process of creating sculptures. The metal was pushed to its limit to create something beautiful. In addition, I submerged garments in wax, to create a broken textile. As the user wears it, the garment continues to break.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
CONCEPT BOARD - punk, wax, beauty
COLOUR BOARD - Inspired by metal
RAGE AND SADNESS - Explaining my concept
DESIGN PROCESS - Punk, Tailoring, metal
PLASTER EXPERIMENT - designing on broken plaster
TOILE - Toile process of look one
BREATHE CHAIN HARNESS - Inspired by The Prodigy
SMASHED SUBLIMATION - Lining process
PRIMAL EMOTION LINE UP
LOOK ONE - Photoshoot
LOOK ONE - Close up
LOOK TWO - The wax look
BREAK OUT - Look One
BREAK OUT - Look two
DETAIL
My own personal trauma fuelled this project. This collection encapsulates beauty in rage
This collection focuses on the process of rage. Initially, there is rage and anger, which can be shown through multiple mediums. For this collection I focused this energy on the wax elements and bronze casts. After rage, the emotion moves towards sadness and vulnerability, this is seen by exposing the wearer through low rise trousers. To achieve beauty, vulnerability within both emotions is essential. Being neuro diverse, I used music to cope with each emotion. For rage I listened to Don Broco, Nothing But Thieves and Royal Blood. In each of the artists, they portray a strong sense of emotion, heard within their raw voices and intoxicating rhythm. For sadness I listened to Willow, her album ARDIPITHECUS resonated with the pain I was experiencing through my emotional trauma. As well as this, I wanted this collection to be highly experimental. Traditional menswear is boring, and there is a new wave of eccentric menswear. Which I am going to be a part of.
RAGE AND SADNESS SHOULD BE EMBRACED – AS THEIR VULNERABILITY CREATES BEAUTY
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