SOHO NIGHTS is a textile-centric fashion project inspired by London streets and nightlife. This concept was born after one of my evening walks through Soho while I was studying abroad. I found myself in a pub area where every corner had a long line of people waiting to go inside, and was intrigued by the contrast between the energetic crowd and the grimy environment around them.
The area around the historic John Snow pub in particular caught my attention, for it was surrounded by trees and poles with empty liquor bottles taped to them, as if in some sort of public art display. In my later research, I found that hanging bottles is a traditional practice in some African cultures, believed to trap evil spirits - an ironic parallel with the discarded spirit bottles taped to trees in an act of vandalism.
The tradition of evil spirit bottle-capturing, along with the seedy atmosphere of night-time Soho, inspired me to explore ways of visually representing humans' lowest instincts and vices captured in tight structures, and translate this energy into textiles.
My photo of a crowd lining up in front of the John Snow pub in Soho, 2017.
A spread from my Soho Nights sketchbook with my photos of the 'tree bottles' and a visual study of crammed spaces. A.K. 2017
Another page from the sketchbook with references to the Paleolithic Venus - a symbol of primal lust. A.K. 2017
Soho Nights sketchbook, exploration of shapes, colors, and texture. A.K. 2017
The final product of my exploration is a lineup of illustrated looks that capture the essence of lustful spirits trapped in Soho. The highlight of the collection is a fabric structure I made from shredded tights, crocheted and filled with poly-fill to create bulky claustrophobic structures, resembling Soho's seedy alleys.
Soho Nights sketchbook with the photos of the final look, constructed from crocheted tights and poly-filled shapes. A.K. 2017
Soho Nights final lineup, illustration in marker on paper, A.K. 2017
Soho Nights final lineup, illustration in marker on paper, A.K. 2017
Soho Nights constructed look, headpiece and bodice made from crocheted shredded tights, poly fill and neon cording.
