Mutation 2021

Mutation 2021 is a conceptual womenswear collection that makes use of 3D printing and laser cutting on top of traditional fashion construction.

The main inspiration for this collection comes from AKIRA, a film about Tetsuo, a boy who gains psychic abilities after an encounter with a secret government test subject. As his power grows, he becomes egotistical and destructive, ultimately losing control. I see parallels between the girl at the heart of my 2021 collection, Tetsuo and myself—we are all navigating life with newfound power and uncertainty.

This collection expresses the optimism and potential young adults feel after graduation as they enter the workforce, while also highlighting the fear and anxiety of stepping into the unknown, where control feels just out of reach.

Accessories for this collection relied heavily on digital fabrication. The final collection included, 3D printed shoes for all models, 3D printed glasses and a 3D printed handbag.

The word mutation itself, reflects the central conceptof the collection—the transformation people go through as they transition from young adulthood into full adulthood, from student to working professional. The word carries a natural, biological tone and is often used to describe changes in living organisms such as humans, animals, and plants. This helps reinforce the idea that the collection is about human growth and change—an evolution rooted in lived experience rather than something artificial or static.

The title for this collection also takes inspiration from song “2009” by Mac Miller, from his 2018 album Swimming. In his words, the song reflected what he was proud of and what he feared. The year 2009 marked the beginning of his music career, when he released his first mixtape. After his passing in 2018, many musicians—especially in hip hop—paid tribute by titling songs after significant years in their own lives, such as Earl Sweatshirt’s “2010,” JID’s “2007,” Saba’s “2012,” and Bad Bunny’s“2016.” In a similar spirit, 2021 represents the start of my journey in fashion. It was the year I entered university—a program I never imagined being accepted into, and a path I hadn’t initially considered. Now, as Icommit to this direction professionally, this collection is a reflectionon the personal growth and transformation that began in that pivotal year.