Darcy Russell

Life at the Beach – A study exploring how different surroundings can affect people’s behaviour and inhibitions, specifically in the context of the beach.

In my final major project, I explored how the way we behave at the beach extends to the way we chose to dress and physically present ourselves in this space. The beach is a place where public and private worlds intersect. A curious mix of defence and intimacy separate from our everyday lives, during which we attempt to hide our deficiencies, both physical and psychological. However, once we find ourselves on a beach, we forget about everything and start acting in an absolutely different manner; we let down our guard, revealing the secrets of our bodies, habits and relationships. My aim was to bring this seemingly isolated spirit of life, free from the usual surrounding world, into a collection of garments that can be worn beyond the borders of the beach.