Eco dyed reclaimed silk crepe and threads.

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Working for so many years in theatre costume I became fascinated with ‘what we leave behind ‘. What memories and energies do we leave in our clothing? What parts of ourselves, both emotional and physical (our skin, hair, sweat, DNA)? This question seems even more relevant in these days of throw away fashion. The title is a play on words -the earliest form of corsetry were called ‘stays’.

Fine ladder stitch holds the pieces together, reflecting our fragility. Clothes that remain after our death. Boning channels were traditionally beautifully embroidered – here I have echoed that with chains of twisted double helix. Using plants to eco dye the fabric reminds us that we will all return to the Earth as will, eventually, the natural silk, cottons and linens of this piece.

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