Ayana Benedict

Contact:
benedictayana@live.co.uk
University/School:
Northumbria University Newcastle
Location:
Newcastle
Specialism:
Award NomineeDiversityFashion DesignHeritage & CultureIllustrationMenswearSportswear & Leisurewear
About Me

Hello, I’m Ayana. A Fashion Design Graduate; specialising in menswear.

Inspired by the idea of cultural fusions which celebrates the collective, Ayana is a contemporary menswear designer that aims promote underrepresented narratives.

My final major project is a personal exploration of how my family has been scrutinised due to their syntactical and grammatical errors and lack of fluency in English. This further investigates how it can be interpreted to prejudge and define one’s social class. Drawing from Colonial India as the foundation of silhouette development, my research understands that a visual hierarchy that was evident, both socially and sartorially. As a designer my collection aims to embrace the cultural collision to redefine western formality by balancing traditional with contemporary styles.

INSPIRATION

A visual representation of linguistic acculturation in context to colonial India

The company we keep investigates Indian Pidgin English (IPE), which is a grammatically simplified form of language. Through researching transcripts, journals, and theorists as well as the dialect of my family, my IPE research interprets and converts the altered structures, reduplication, reduction and addition into details such as, added and omitted seams, double cuffs, asymmetric lapels as well as reduplication through layering.

My second project, A Guide to Elegant Living expands on the idea of sartorial hierarchy, taking inspiration from Indian courtly attire, which was historically adopted by the British as lounge wear. A Guide to Elegant living, is inspired by elite Indian menswear, the project aims re-contextualizes key garments such as the pyjama and the choga coat into elevated semi formal lounge wear.

MY WORK

PORTFOLIOS

DETAIL

Translating Language to Design Detailing

Each garment in this collection represents an element of IPE to produce informed and cohesive designs. My look one trench coat was initially inspired by the angarkha and the kediyans. By referencing the silhouette and detailing of traditional Indian garments I combined aspects of British tailoring such as the collar revere to create a contemporary look. The IPE is embraced through the asymmetric storm flap and the added sleeve panel as well as the cord tied sleeve cuff to reflect addition and restructure. I was carefully selective with colour and fabrication by using technical nylon in a dusty blue to refrain from my garments being categorised as traditionally British or Indian attire.

“The collection sartorially represents the linguistic struggle from my own perspective. It is an observation of minorities whose native tongue is not English.”
Award NomineeDiversityFashion DesignHeritage & CultureIllustrationMenswearSportswear & Leisurewear
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