Mellisanti Spei -who was once a fashion intern for OZON– graduates from London College of Fashion and presents to us her latest project: “Beautiful Is Just Another Degree Of Terrible”. A project that is also going to compete at ITS2013, in Italy-. It’ s a collection of clothes and jewellery inspired from greek folk art and more specifically, greek traditional carvival.
Mellisanthi adds: “The aim of this project is to study how social and cultural everyday life issues can be translated within fashion context to present a fresh point of view, in this case by bringing new attention to tradition. The collection concept is current, personal and helps me evolve through an exploration of my cultural heritage.
This project is a way to show there is an opportunity in a crisis for improvement. It can be expressed using one’s own cultural resources. It reflects confusion and disappointment among people especially in Greece and its youth. Youth needs to appreciate its cultural heritage and not to reject it by imitating foreign stereotypes. The economic crisis is a vital factor creating confusion but at the same time needing solutions. The new interpretations of Carnival values and symbolisms will be used as a medium to suggest solutions through the use of non conventional materials.
The collection shows the transformation of a modern citizen to a Carnival daemon through 8 stages. It will present the need of the modern man to escape and go back to his roots for solutions. There is an emphasis on the cow bells sound and the movement of people in disguises. The bells are a very important element since they are used to wake up the forces of nature and disperse the evil.”
Until the beginning of next month her work will be hosted at M ° BA | Arnhem Mode Biennale 2013 “Fetihism in Fashion” which organizes it Lidewij Edelkoort the TREND UNION.
