Madeleine Goddard

My concept explores the prevalent themes of my favourite novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I believe Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is a great fictional hero, although is misunderstood. At first, he is judged negatively, but ultimately Mr Darcy is seen for who he truly is. It is a common misconception that his character changes throughout the book because he falls in love; I believe it is our perspective of him that changes. This relates to the prevalent theme: first impressions, the initial title for the novel. The characters are judged quickly, and initial impressions often turn out to be false.

I believe Austen’s work is still relevant to our society as we still make our own judgements. The design process started by exploring Darcy’s personality traits and the semiotics behind them. This is emphasizing the assumptions made about him. I also explored the idea of garments not being worn or constructed properly. This represents revealing what is underneath and showing one’s true character. Darcy’s behaviour is unexpected, which reflects the prejudices put on him.

My collection has a strong tailored focus as I am drawn to the methodical techniques and the heritage of bespoke tailoring. I believe tailoring works well conceptually because there are many internal components to a tailored jacket such as pad stitching and canvassing. To some, there can perhaps be no idea what is hidden within. This strongly links to the conceptual idea that Mr Darcy has many attributes that at first are not seen. When it comes to making an impression, there is more than meets the eye. My tailoring skills were challenged when I had to adapt my knowledge of the traditional techniques to fit my unconventional coat. I explored wood to further develop concept ideas. An example is a wooden feature that curves three-dimensionally to fit the body. This elevates the theme of the unexpected within my concept whilst the hard material adds a layer of constraint. Impulsive first impressions can restrict identity when in fact there are multiple layers to a person that don’t deserve quick judgement.

My main aspiration is to make people think twice; to consider others more thoughtfully. As Austen wrote, “It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us”.