Design, Tooling Design and Production, Vacuum Forming
Location – International
Tayla Horn, a designer originally from South Africa and now based in London, has dedicated her studies to rethinking the fundamentals of textiles. From the outset, her exploration has centred on challenging traditional building blocks of textile design, allowing her to deeply understand existing structures before ultimately reinventing them with intention and care. Through this approach, she has developed a practice rooted in both technical knowledge and visionary reinterpretation.
As a result, she established her atelier with a focus on unconventional material quality and extended lifespan, continually pushing boundaries in sustainable and innovative textile practices. By combining research-led experimentation with refined craftsmanship, Tayla positions her work at the intersection of design, material science, and environmental responsibility.
Tayla sought a translucent solution to showcase her unique textile designs in a way that allowed light to interact with the materials, thereby emphasising their textures and intricate details. Because of this goal, she needed a display that would not only hold her creations securely but also beautifully reveal the layers, craftsmanship, and subtleties embedded in every piece.
A conventional mannequin would have obscured the delicate artistry she aimed to highlight; therefore, she envisioned a display that could act as both structural support and visual enhancer. In addition, the solution needed to remain lightweight, elegant, and transparent so that it aligned seamlessly with her aesthetic while presenting her textiles in a striking, refined, and contemporary manner.
Studio Sowow responded to Tayla’s vision by designing and producing two custom bodice forms that served as translucent displays for her showcase. After thoroughly analysing her requirements, the team created sculptural forms that complemented the silhouette of her textile work while simultaneously allowing textures, structures, and woven details to remain completely visible.
By utilising vacuum-forming techniques, Studio Sowow produced lightweight yet durable bodices that embodied Tayla’s ethereal aesthetic and provided a stable foundation for her work. Consequently, these bespoke forms elevated the visual impact of her exhibition, ensuring her textiles captured the audience’s attention and reinforcing the unorthodox elegance that defines Tayla’s practice.
