Melissa Newton
THAT DAMN WOMAN!
A womenswear Autumn Winter 22 collection, raising awareness of the autistic spectrum and the struggles of diagnosis. The project began as a personal exploration of my mother’s fight for my brother’s recognition of asperges syndrome. Misogynistic labelling against my mother for bearing ‘annoyance’ for trying to fight for his rights to simply live in a world unwelcoming to difference shaped the collection, to embrace and celebrate those who empower others through gentle activism.
Using historical muses to frame this idea gives references to historical garments, a theme that led through into the follow-on collection’s concept ‘Our Last Correspondence’, and ‘Flora over Fauna’, a brand collaboration with Erdem. 'Our Last Correspondence' follows Lady Angela Forbes' loss of her husband during World War One to ultimately question man's usage of machinery in a relaxed Spring Summer 23 collection. 'Flora Over Fauna' is a playfully bright yet contained Spring Summer collection inspired by the life of Vita Sackville West, choosing her career and love of gardening over a man's grasp as expected during the time period.