As part of an initiative led by The Council of Irish Fashion Designers and The Glass Society of Ireland, Aoife Harvey from AH Designs and Dublin-based artist Madeleine Hellier have partnered up for the Glass Runway project. The Council of Irish Fashion Designers and The Glass Society of Ireland wish to “encourage a dialogue on inequality, diversity and inclusion by exploring themes through this exhibition inspiring new ideas and statement pieces in this exclusive collaboration”. Aoife and Madeleine crafted the ‘Corsuit’ — a unique design featuring a corset layered over a suit which can be viewed at Craft NI next month.
Explaining the meaning behind the design, 25-year-old Aoife said the project’s aim is to “provoke a dialogue about issues of gender inequality”. “The female corset historically represents the constraints and rigid gender norms imposed upon women, while the suit is seen as a symbol of professionalism and authority, traditionally associated with men,” she said. “The contrast between the two garments highlights the differences in social expectations and opportunities for individuals based on their gender.
” She added: “This project was out of my comfort zone. It’s easy to work with other fashion designers because you know how their practice works, but it was a completely different ball game when working with an amazing glass designer. “I am so proud of our design that marries our two specialties together, to create something so stunnin.
