#thathautecouturefeeling

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Research Background The area of research in 'critical fashion' is underpinned by practitioners exploring 'the social and political impact of clothing' (Teunissen 2014) by means of the 'the construction and exploration of garments as performative and political devices' (Cuba 2014). Research Contribution In the book The Future of Fashion is Now (2014) #thatcouturefeeling is said to ask 'How is clothing produced and how are its artistic values communicated in all the manifestations and products of a particular brand?' (Arts 2014). D&K critically engage and comment from within the fashion industry, representing a new discourse and research area proposing alternative methods for fashion systems and the emerging expanded field of fashion design. This project introduced the use of clothing, alongside installation, video, photographs and performance as primary means to critique the way fashion is produced and consumed. Research Significance The Cultural Program of the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (2013) showcases independent fashion projects that consider the broader social, cultural and political ethics of fashion production. Cultural program curator Mikala Tai invited D&K to present a project and in collaboration with Bus Projects. Research and art based fashion projects in the cultural program communicate fashion concepts to the wider fashion industry as well as the extended art and design community that frequents Melbourne's aritists run initiative. The project was featured and promoted by online Melbourne cultural blog Three Thousand. In addition this project contributed to D&K's selection in the award commission for the Future of Fashion is Now, and was featured and reviewed in the exhibition catalogue as a key project that contributes to politically driven or 'fashion activism'.