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. Her exploration delves into challenging traditional building blocks of textile design, leveraging the skills to first understand existing structures deeply and then to reinvent them thoughtfully. She established her atelier with a central focus on an unconventional approach to both material quality and lifespan, pushing boundaries in sustainable and innovative textile practices.
Tayla sought a translucent solution to showcase her unique textile designs in a way that allowed light to interact with the materials, emphasising their textures and intricate details. She needed a display that would not only hold her creations securely but also highlight the layers and craftsmanship inherent in each piece.
A conventional mannequin would obscure the delicate artistry she aimed to feature, so she envisioned something that could serve as both a support and an enhancer of her work. The solution had to be lightweight, elegant, and transparent, aligning with her aesthetic while presenting her textiles in a striking and sophisticated manner.
Studio Sowow responded to Tayla’s vision by designing and producing two custom bodice forms that would serve as translucent displays for her showcase. After carefully studying her requirements, they created sculptural forms that complemented her textile designs while allowing the material’s textures and structure to remain visible.
Using vacuum-forming techniques, Studio Sowow produced lightweight, durable bodices that captured Tayla’s aesthetic, providing an ethereal yet sturdy support for her pieces. These bespoke forms enhanced the visual impact of her designs on display, ensuring they captured the audience’s attention while respecting the unorthodox elegance of Tayla’s work.
