The Former Salesman
June 2024
My “Former Salesman" project is inspired by the archetype of the salesman, who then transforms into an unrecognizable body with evening wear signifiers. Representing the move of my creativity into corporate fashion, it grapples with the perpetual cycle of creation to commercialization. The “Former Salesman” aims to explore themes of personal identity, societal pressures, and the dichotomy of ambition versus reality within the fashion context. My main inspirations include Francis Bacon, Vivienne Westwood, Dilara Findikoglu, and the essence of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” The poignant lines, “A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man” and “Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be?” deeply resonate with the core of my project. Within my fashion practice, textile manipulation and creation are crucial. I chose to explore devoré velvet for its combination of transparency and opacity. I decided to subvert this technique by creating the effect of the fabric decaying in a non-repeating hand-painted pattern. This process of burning out fibers and the fabric devouring itself fits well with “the former salesman’s” deterioration and transformation. Another key part of my fashion practice is sustainability. The brown wool fabric is dead stock and otherwise would’ve been put in a landfill. This is the same for my toiling materials and beads. Incorporating these sustainable elements not only aligns with my ethical values but also adds another layer of meaning to the project, highlighting the theme of repurposing and transformation in both material and narrative.
Models: Simone Maillardet And Ella Berlowitz