Overview

This research examines the crucial relationship between body and space in fashion and interior design, focusing on how each constructs elements that shape experiences within an interior space. The research question guiding this study is: How can integrating fashion design principles and construction methods enhance innovation and dynamics in interior design, creating more cohesive and experientially enriching elements for the human experience? This study highlights fashion’s mutual influence and future potential on interiors by analysing case studies and blended practices, such as Iris Van Herpen’s work that merges fashion and architecture. The primary goal of this project is to advocate for multidisciplinary approaches to interior design, demonstrating how fashion design can enhance innovation and dynamics in interior spaces.

“Body and Space”

“Body and space” are fundamental concepts in fashion and interior design, as each discipline revolves around shaping and enclosing space around the human form.

Architectural theorist Adolf Loos likened architecture to clothing, describing clothing as a ‘basic shelter.’ Loos’ research suggests that this connection inspired architects to engage with textiles, which I understood as a way to envision the “meaning and aesthetics of dwelling.” Interior design translates these ideas into physical spaces, using textiles to shape and sustain these principles.

In my work, I applied artist Bruce McLean’s approach, where he used plinths of varying heights, proportions, and sizes to explore how the human body adapts to its surroundings. My goal was to investigate how the body interacts with different scales and how these interactions change based on configuration. Through this experimentation and instinctive movement, I uncovered how interior design elements like Fashion have a profound influence on human behaviour habits, rituals and experiences within a space.

Construction

Fashion and interior design often intersect through construction techniques, as seen in the works of Iris Van Herpen and Char Har Lee, who use laser cutting to shape garments and footwear for the human form. Inspired by this approach, I extracted the pattern from a corset toile and adapted it for an interior design context. This fusion of form and process allowed me to further develop my creative methodology, merging the structural principles of fashion with the conceptual and material approaches of both fashion and interior design.

Sustainability

In my report, construction emerged as a key focus, leading me to explore sustainability and how construction techniques can be applied across both fashion and interior design. Artists like Igor with his “Pop Form” and fashion brand Anrealage in their A/W 2020 collection have employed modular structures that adapt to the human body, highlighting versatility in both function and purpose. These formations not only shape the environment but also influence how the body moves, interacts with space, and navigates its surroundings, reflecting a dynamic relationship between form and function.

Developing Artefacts

Drawing inspiration from Anrealage’s garment block, I experimented with scaling their modular formations into interior elements. By employing various assembly methods, I was able to produce diverse outcomes from the same foundational form. While the underlying principles of translating concepts between fashion and interiors are the same, the way space adapts to interior elements differs significantly from how garments conform to the body. This exploration allowed me to investigate the dynamic relationship between form and function across both disciplines.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c52a68d0-3226-3d9c-ae17-635764e33760