Art and Heritage Online Database

Collection: Gray's School of Art Design Collection
Object Type: dress
Artist/Maker: Naysmith, Megan
Date: 2023
Awards: RGU Fashion Design Purchase Award
Classification: Fashion and Textiles

Description:

Inspired by travels of my surrounding landscapes in Scotland, and the people you meet along the way; LUAINEACH (meaning “wanderlust” in Scottish Gaelic) explores the dialogue between fabrics and the relationships they build in describing a person; from their personal aesthetic to their interests and lifestyle. I love to experiment with colour, texture, and weights of fabrics by mixing and matching them to invent interesting, eclectic characters telling the stories of these ‘folk’ through my collection. Sustainability runs naturally throughout my collection, from deadstock and natural materials to upcycling unconventional fabrics such as old upholstery fabrics. Using second-hand is not only more ethical but adds depth to my narratives as they all already hold their own sense of history, showing signs of their past life through wear and tear.

The Luaineach dress is part of Megan Naysmith's 2023 degree show collection. It is a composite of a vareity of secondhand and upcycled fabrics ranging from a curtain to an old tutu and silk scarves. The fabrics are shades of pinks with pops of yellow in the drawstring cord at the bottom and the straps.
The bottom layer of fabric is a ballet pink curtain with burgundy tulle layered and fixed at the top. It is gathered at the top with a detachable draped layer of printed tea dyed silk attached with old suspender clips making the skirt part of the dress.

Object Number: ABDRG2023.30