Crafted Experiences: Weaving the Craft of Dressmaking into Retail Space
Abstract:
The intersection of fashion and architecture centers around the user; it is their interaction, experience, and memory that give a space meaning. With the introduction of fast fashion, clothing retail stores morphed into anonymous spaces with generic designs and became volatile to trends, which leads to a lack of authentic engagement with clothing. Previous academic research has tried to understand the relationship between fashion designers and their clothing, but there is limited literature addressing the reciprocal role of the making of their dresses and the spaces in which they are presented to potential consumers. In this line of thinking, this thesis explores how the act of crafting dresses can inform the design of retail space while creating a deeper connection to clothing. Three dresses are designed, crafted, and curated to explore clothing’s ability to influence the autonomy, emotion, and movement of the body. The dresses are then projected and conceptualized into an architectural retail space. The aim of this research is to contribute to a better understanding of the role of architects, fashion designers, and the design of retail spaces in creating a more engaging environment to allow consumers to feel connected to a brand’s vision and a designer’s creative process.
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor: David Correa
Committee member: Linda Zhang
Internal-external reader: Jane Mah Hutton
External: Megan Cassidy
The defence examination will take place:
Monday, April 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
In person, in the Riverside Gallery.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.