Rafia Rasul

Healing

My theme is about self-healing and identification. My project is heavily based on my relation with the materials I’ve worked with and the representation behind each aspect of the dress that I created.

“I have created an avant-garde dress based on my theme of self-healing. I have explored the relation that craft had with my mental health with an emphasis put on the process of the creation. The symbolism is very personal to me, highly influenced by my Pakistani culture. I have dyed the bodice with turmeric and embroidered Urdu words related to my theme onto the neckline similarly to traditional Pakistani clothing. The skirt of the dress is a circle skirt which I’ve stiffened and stitched embroidery onto. I created these embroidery pieces using water soluble sheets, making the thread the only thing that holds the work together. Each embroidered piece is a part of my personal healing journey and holds a significant meaning to me. I’ve created this dress to get a better understanding of myself and help me in my journey of healing, which I hope to also inspire others to do. ”