About Me
Hi, I'm Elakija a graduate fashion design student
As a designer, I am influenced and inspired by creating designs that empower women. For me inspiration is everywhere, I absorb the world around me for inspiration to create fresh and original designs. Minimalism is my style. Simple but unique silhouettes, clean-cut lines, but most of the time, I think theatrically and I enjoy creating intricate designs.
My final collection is about 'cocooning comfortability.' The COVID-19 pandemic has left our minds and bodies feeling "cocooned." This is how the term "cocooning" evolved, which has totally changed the way we dress since the pandemic. The whole concept of using layers of fabric to replace human contact as a protective blanket has been the fashion trend of 2021. This inspired me to explore the female body image by concealing the body with voluminous cocoon-inspired silhouettes for my graduate collection.
INSPIRATION
My initial idea started from the lack of diversity in the fashion industry.
The industry is primed to offer sustainably crafted designs that satisfy the growing demand for cosy, cocooning comfortability after a year of reflective change. The lack of diversity in the fashion industry has caused young women to see their bodies, beauty, features, and ultimately their identity as not worthy. The pandemic has changed our perceptions of ourselves, inspiring me to develop a concept for the female body in order to encourage body positivity.
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MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Burberry Animal Kingdom Competition
DETAIL
Contrasting Textures
To contrast the different textures of the fabrics, the cocoon-inspired coat is sculptured in two different shades of brown in melton wool and paired with a contrasting sage green crepe satin panel dress with hand-sewn textile manipulation sleeves and chunky olive green ribbing for the collar and cuff.
How we vary isn't diversity. How we embrace and respect one another's differences is diversity.
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
