Bessie Afnaim just graduated from the fashion design BFA program at Parsons NYC and for her final thesis she created a collection based on 'extreme emotions', being lost in the wilderness with no place to go. It explores the idea of what happens to your body when you are all alone and only have yourself and your gut feeling to rely on. Your emotions travel like they are on a journey. from feeling confused and trapped to free and a sense of belonging. The clothes, whilst resembling emotions also create an emotion for the consumer.
The whole collection tells a story and represents this journey by starting in a state of confusion with need of protection to ending with this idea of the emotions melting off your body, and no longer needing any form of protection, your free and comfortable in your surrounding.
One of the dresses makes the wearer look trapped as the arm hole is coming from the stomach, but she actually deceives her environment and in reality feels completely free and liberated.
The designer wants her customer to create a home within her clothes, make her clothes her second skin and give it her personal identity. Her collection is not about trends but about buying pieces that last forever and become more beautiful as they are worn. She used washed fabrics that have been softened and over-dyed.
All pieces drape off your body, allowing any body shape to wear the pieces and completely transform how they look from person to person.
All photos by Stian Foss visit his photography website here
If you wish to contact Bessie Afnaim you can reach her at:
bessie.afnaim {at} hotmail.co.uk
