Week 8 of Fashion & Costume has arrived, & with Assessment Task 2 now complete, my full focus shifts to bringing my hero garment – Phoenix Transformation – to life. This concept explores transformation through resilience, inspired by the mythical phoenix & deeply tied to my own recovery journey.
The repurposed hot air balloon fabric is at the heart of this work – both a literal & emotional symbol of ascent. It speaks of rising above adversity, reclaiming freedom, & carrying the marks of past trials as part of one’s beauty. The skirt & pants embody strength, movement, & renewal. Their structure offers protection & groundedness, while the flowing, adaptive elements suggest flight, growth, & evolution. Through this blend of functionality & symbolism, the piece reflects an essential truth: even after being burned by life’s fires, we can rebuild – refined, resilient, & radiant.
This week, I’ve been reworking & refining every element of the design after another productive consultation with my mentors, Darran & Nasia. Rather than fully enclosing the chaps with balloon-style pants, I’ve chosen to partially cover them using the salvaged fabric scraps, leaving some of the poly boning visible. The exposed framework enhances the raw, skeletal aesthetic – a visual metaphor for transparency & strength through vulnerability. Green ribbon & elastic will be hidden beneath the flat balloon straps, which will also connect to the bodice as a halter neck & secure the waist.
The ropes from the balloon will serve as drawstrings for the skirt, while the metal pulleys & fittings will transform into embellishments – rings, details, & symbolic adornments of survival & ingenuity. I’ve already crafted earrings & a ring from these metal components, & plan to create a pair of shoes from the same salvaged fabric, continuing the cycle of transformation from the ground up.
Three aluminum sheets – 600mm x 900mm, 0.6mm thick – are on their way from Bowens for the bodice & wings. If they prove suitable, I’ll shape them using a protected mannequin as the mold & a rubber mallet to sculpt the curves. Nasia has connected me with a family member skilled in laser cutting, ensuring precision in the final design. The vision is to achieve the organic contours from my cardboard mock-up: wings curling upward, textured like flame, & fabric draped & bound with rope – distressed, alive, & in motion.
When I stood back from the mannequin today, seeing the fabric trailing & the bodice form taking shape, I felt that powerful surge of recognition – the phoenix is rising. This creation is more than a garment; it’s a manifestation of my recovery, my creative rebirth, & the beauty of persistence. I feel immense gratitude for my mentors & peers at LCI Melbourne. Their guidance & enthusiasm fuel my momentum, pushing me to keep experimenting, refining, & embracing change.
The studio hums with energy – a shared rhythm of creativity & transformation as each student’s vision unfolds. As I watch my phoenix come to life, I’m reminded: the process itself is the flight.
Larissa Sarina BAGLIERI 