This project was created for the Design & Development course as a group assignment. The goal was to develop a fashion collection starting from one inspirational image and transform it into a complete creative concept. Together, we explored different styles, silhouettes, and historical references before creating our final summer collection.
Our collection was inspired by the contrast between pirates and Victorian fashion. We were fascinated by the rebellious and adventurous image of pirates combined with the elegance, structure, and dramatic shapes of Victorian clothing. We translated these influences into modern fashion by using layered silhouettes, asymmetry, pleats, and corset-inspired details.
We also looked at stage fashion and performance wear because we wanted the collection to feel expressive, theatrical, and visually strong.
For this project, we chose Vivienne Westwood
as the main inspiration for our collection. Vivienne
Westwood was a British fashion designer known
for combining punk fashion with historical
influences. Her work often challenged traditional
fashion rules and included elements such as corsets,
draping, tailoring, asymmetry, and rebellious styling.
She became famous during the punk movement in the 1970s and played an important role
in bringing punk aesthetics into high fashion. Many of her collections were inspired by
British history, pirates, royal fashion, and Victorian silhouettes, which connected
perfectly to the concept of our collection. What inspired us most about her work was
the way she mixed historical references with modern and experimental fashion.
During our research, we analysed several fashion brands that connect to our aesthetic and target audience.
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Dior – especially the Cruise 2025 collection, because of its elegant silhouettes and theatrical styling.
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Alexander McQueen – known for dramatic fashion, strong tailoring, and dark romantic influences.
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Comme des Garçons – recognised for experimental and asymmetrical designs.
These brands inspired us through their creativity, storytelling, and combination of historical and contemporary fashion.
Our target audience consists mainly of young singers and performers with expressive and alternative styles. We imagined the collection being worn on stage, during performances, photoshoots, or music videos where dramatic silhouettes and strong visual identity are important.
The audience is inspired by artists such as Nieve Ella, Olivia Rodrigo during the Sour Tour, PinkPantheress, and Eileen Alister. These artists represent individuality, confidence, and a modern alternative fashion style, which matches the identity of our collection.
Our collection is called Pirates of the Palace. The theme combines the rough and rebellious energy of pirates with the elegance and luxury of palace and Victorian fashion.
The collection represents freedom, rebellion, drama, and femininity. We wanted the garments to feel powerful but also romantic and theatrical. By mixing pirate-inspired details with Victorian silhouettes, we created a collection that feels both historical and modern.
For my personal design, I wanted to create a dramatic and layered silhouette. I focused on adding many layers and pleats to create movement and texture within the garment.
One of the most important elements of my design was the fake corset construction. I wanted the outfit to have the visual appearance of a traditional corset while still being comfortable and easy to wear. Because of this, the garment could easily close at the back.
I also designed the piece with asymmetry to make the silhouette more modern and dynamic. The combination of layers, pleats, and corset-inspired details helped connect my design to both pirate fashion and Victorian influences while still keeping it contemporary and wearable.
To complete the project, we organised a final photoshoot where the garments were styled and photographed. The photoshoot helped showcase the mood, movement, and details of the collection and strengthened the storytelling behind Pirates of the Palace.
