Olivia’s brother Thomas, who is a disabled Outsider artist, had a brain tumour at the age of 9. As a result, his vision is severely impaired and yet he still creates graphic illustrations. Olivia has been inspired by what colour means to him and how it is linked with emotion. The initial silhouettes were taken from hospital scrubs. It was also inspired by a condolence letter from a relative after hearing news of his diagnosis, outlining a memory that the relative had of Thomas “peeping out from underneath the safety of mothers skirts” as a child.

Subverted 1950s housewives, vintage Americana and traditional heterosexual family values powered the collections prints and cuts, with flat pattern cutting exploring more feminine tailored silhouettes. Extended bodice lengths were inspired by vintage Dior, kitchen aprons and Kitchenalia. The digital/hand cut vinyl prints were inspired by the silhouettes of of continuous drawings of childhood photographs and cake icing drips, as well as Surrealist art movements. Olivia had a zero-waste method to manufacture, with all materials being off-cuts from local vinyl companies and used organic/sustainable materials from alternative leather companies. She found a method of heat pressing vinyl onto recycled felts to create a ‘fake leather’ look.

The collection results in a frenzy of colour, joyful texture and subjectivity, all of which - much like a piece of artwork - is up to the viewers interpreation. Is it really joyful or is there something else? Olivia’s hopes to illustrate the importance of family through her brothers story and his incredible artwork. In an vision-domiated artform such as fashion, she hopes to push that not all artists or creatives create just by seeing and sometimes emotion can speak for itself.