The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024 - Issue 35

bitefashion NORWICH ELLA WHITBREAD Ella Whitbread based her collection on the Greek myth of Medusa, the gorgon that could turn men to stone. Reassessing the perception of a young woman’s famous story, in which she has historically been painted as a monster, the outfit presented the other side of the story. The ‘reality’ of this famous monster was a lonely young woman who chose to be hidden from the world to protect others. She is only presented as a monster due to her power, which is enacted when she defends herself. The pieces highlighted a life of isolation and innocence interrupted by manipulative men with the sole goal of murdering Medusa to use her head as a weapon. It was done through the presentation of the deterioration of the garment, appearing as if it has been tied and repaired repeatedly over time with an indication towards the tragic end of her life through a beaded neckpiece. ELLA TAYLOR Ella Taylor’s A Whole New Life, created using building and boat waste, took her on a journey of experimentation and discovery. It proved how versatile materials can be if we consider how they can benefit us through each of their unique properties. With the goal of educating and inspiring, the collection’s sustainably driven designs innovate using unexpected, repurposed materials, present- ing a dressed-down, dressed-up underground royal. Quake, Breathe, Burn, and Flood are titles used to communicate a timeline of historical, contem- porary and future environmental stages, ultimately bringing the focus back to the most important: ecological consideration. In response to each of the terms, the monochromatic pieces within the collection revolutionise and repurpose unusual, reclaimed materials. https://www.norwich.edu