Hello! My name is Ashlee Villanueva, I am a returning student here at Fullerton College after an 8 year hiatus. This is my first semester after my long absence. In the time I was gone I started my own shop called Gutter Glitter Shop where I make custom performance wear, costumes, have my own collection and also take alterations here and there. I came back to Fullerton College to learn new skills and refine the ones I have presently. If you would like to learn more about me and my work you can always fine me on instagram under @gutterglittershop or my website gutterglittershop.onuniverse.com, I also had a couple interviews last year but by far my favorite one is by Voyage LA...you can just google my first and last name along with "Voyage LA" and find it there. I get really personal, and Ive been told its very inspiring.
When I think of Technology in Fashion I think of sustainability and actual technology incorporated into garments or textiles. For my submission I am displaying a gown entirely made from fused trash bags. I see this as a way to recycle used trash bags in the future to create textiles. They would theoretically go through a prepping cycle much like plastic and glass bottles do at a recycling plant, then fused to make thicker more sturdy textiles that could be used to create countless things. I also incorporated EL-wire as my piping illusion. This wire actually is connected to battery packs underneath the skirt of the dress and lights up! This is how I imagine garments in the future to look aesthetically, much like in the movie Tron.
This outfit is basically taking the concept of recycling old technology but enmeshing it with fashion. Instead of submitting your old technology to a specialty recycling place we are repurposing it into couture. It also mixes in e-textiles by way of fiber optics to provide a very futuristic feel. There is also a second nod to sustainability beyond recycling old tech gear by use of the recycled hefty bags in lieu of actual woven or knitted fabric. Essentially the idea is to reinvent how things are recycled, how fashion can be part of the recycling process, and then fiber optics are tossed in for fun but to also bring attention to the future of e-textiles. It a great blend on many futuristic ideas for the textile industry and fashion design.
