Perfectly
Broken
Inspired by childhood's most beloved toy, De Lange's "Perfectly Broken" ready-to-wear collection is influenced by the concept of discarded dolls and their broken imperfections, along with their hidden relevance to today's social issues….
Growing up the idea of a doll house meant to have full and total control of the fantasy play world I had created, Each room had meaning, creating a story for each character developed into my theatrics for fashion design, Considering my collections to be short stories, the significance of each color, fabric, or even styling choice are all specifically chosen in order to create an unforgettable, detail oriented, story.
However, I tend to impulsively tear up drawings, cut into garments, and restart projects multiple times simply because I convince myself they haven't reached perfection.
Discarding ideas due to lack of control, correlate to dolls being thrown away, disregarded, and neglected, Just like clothes, they serve their purpose until they are no longer needed and the memories attached tend to disappear. As a child, it was hard to let go of any object that was deemed useless, as I had given it too much importance. I had become emotionally attached to it.
No matter how broken or old, I kept everything.
Honoring that sentiment, this collection embraces sustainability by finding use and giving new life to every scrap. It utilizes every piece of cut yardage, reduces textile waste, and creates unique patchwork designs that celebrate the beauty of imperfection.
Each garment should be recognized for its story and not easily discarded, but instead passed down through generations or given away, much like dolls traditionally are.
Patchworked garments, loose threads, half-constructed looks, and contrasting fabrics represent the tension between perfectionism and imperfection, creating a sense of disunity while celebrating the unique individuality of each piece—just like broken dolls.
Popular doll manufacturers often lack inclusivity. The inclusion of diverse models challenges this mindset and societal beauty standards. Similar to dolls, which are for everyone, not just girls, the clothing embraces a traditionally feminine aesthetic while emphasizing that it’s for all.
This collection will be a new representation of what perfect really means as it appeals to themes of diversity, body inclusivity, the aging population, and genderless clothing. Embracing my own chaos while making sure that no one is ignored or forgotten.
