Fashioning a new skin

Thread spoke to Fo’i Seaso following the Massey University New Blood Graduate about her memorable collection NEUW SKIN, which brought together disparate elements including digital printing, Tatau, and hand dyed leaves…

Thread spoke to Fo’i Seaso following the Massey University New Blood Graduate Fashion Show 2011 to find out more about the technical details and inspiration behind her memorable collection.

Seaso’s NEUW SKIN, which brought together disparate elements including digital printing, Tatau, hand dyed leaves, candy colours, male/ female motifs and leather to create tattooed post apocalyptic Mad Max maidens. An eclectic vision using tradition concepts contrasted with up to the minute techniques leant Seaso’s collection a feeling of freshness and intrigue.

WHERE DID YOUR BODYSUIT CONCEPT COME FROM?
I was inspired by the art of Tatau (tattoo), in which I wanted to break the rules of tradition and fuse together both male and female motifs designed around the female form to create a second skin. The colours are a contemporary take on the traditional black ink, to bring out the intensity of the motif prints and to represent the richness of the Pacific culture. I have always been intrigued by the art of tattoo, which has obviously become a global trend of its own, so I wanted to expand on the idea of using the body as a canvas for my own interpretation of the art, in a more clean and crisp approach.

DID YOU START WITH ILLUSTRATIONS OR DID YOU WORK STRAIGHT ON THE BODY?
I started with freehand drawings on full size women’s patterns, and then applied them straight onto a body form for sampling. The prints were then refined digitally using specific computer applications.

WHAT FABRICS DID YOU USE TO COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION?
My fabric selection consists of leather, hand-dyed pandanus leaves, and digital printed polyester lycra.

WERE THERE ANY TECHNICAL OBSTACLES THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME?
The whole process was technically challenging, due to the combination of unusual fabrics.

WHAT PART OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WORKING IN?
I’m all for prints, colour and illustrations, so I definitely see myself working within the creative field of fashion.

By Rose Jackson 23 November 2011