Acid Bloom is a collection of six outfits made and fabricated entirely by Dawn. The collection was inspired by the idea of a woman as an urban orchid.

Orchids are symbols of both strength and fragility. They can survive in harsh conditions without water for long periods of time and still bring forth a fragile, beautiful orchid flower. In Chinese culture, the orchid is considered to be one of the four venerable flowers, as bestowed by Confucius.

In today’s urban world, a woman wanting her own independence has to juggle expectations pertaining to her domestic responsibilities and her personal desires and aspirations to have her own life. She has to be strong and brave in chasing them while managing her fragile and emotional nature.

This collection speaks of a woman who like an orchid which blooms under the pressure of harsh urban societal conditions. The intense pressure is transformed into vibrant saturated colours of freedom used freely in this collection. The painterly brushstrokes represent her emotions, want and passion for life. Soft floral printed silk organzas with a subtle orchid print or neon paint effect depict her fragile and softer side. This is contrasted with structured, holographic fabrics that have a hard but mouldable metallic sculptural feel, that references the urban industrial landscape. Patterned characteristics of the orchid petal have been laser cut into the surface of fabrics for a decorative effect. The collection consists of bras, baseball caps, double bonded coats to jumpsuits and overalls.

Photography by Kenny Li

This collection was chosen to show at the annual SCAD Fashion Show 2016 and at London Graduate Fashion Week 2016.