The Jellyfish Costume

A seven week project focused around the concept of ‘Storytelling through Costume’. Learning to push boundaries and applying movement and body whilst thinking of the costume through the audience’s eyes. Within a speculative promenade performance, designing this costume set out to tell the story of a jellyfish on land who is stripped of all her shine by land animals, representing how humans are stripping our oceans of their beauty.

To do this, calico was dyed in a grey gradient and made into a stiff, unflattering shift to be the jellyfish’s final form. Colourful and floaty fabrics like organza and dyed cotton were selected and sewn together as a top and skirt with poppers to tell the story of her colour being drained. Playing with draping organza simulated that wispy, dainty quality of jellyfish.