For this menswear project, I drew inspiration from the world of gangsters, examining both the 1920s Prohibition era mobsters and how modern-day rappers portray a similar gangster image through distinct and evolving dress codes.

For the fabrics and textures, I took a maximalist approach, incorporating a variety of materials such as satin, velvet, faux leather, and a mix of colors and prints to reflect the nouveau riche elements of these figures. My research also included client profiling—understanding who the clients for this collection are, what their unique style and lifestyle entail.

For the final garment I created, I incorporated metallic zippers to evoke a sense of gangster "bling" and richness. I also designed and created my own leopard-style print using gold paint, black and gold embroidery made on a domestic(!) sewing machine, all applied to a baby blue suede fabric.