UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY, Australia

JESSICA GUZMAN

MORAL PANIC

Moral panic examines the visual tension that exists between social classes in the UK. In a class society, fashion is used to signal an individual’s membership to, and distinction from, one group or another. While lower income people are often depicted as outrageous caricatures in popular culture, Moral Panic seeks to celebrate the elements that are ridiculed and give a voice to the sidelined.

Fashion is accessible to all classes and should be used to empower and not marginalize or stereotype. The body of work comprises both knitted and woven garments. Polyester yarn was chosen as the core knitwear fabrication to reference contemporary sportswear while polyester taffeta was chosen for its stereotypical association with vulgar evening gown dresses. These synthetic fabrications are then embellished with chunky Swarovski crystals and rows of intricate beading. These materials are intrinsic to the story of Moral Panic as they help create the visual clash between couture and ‘chav’.