The ‘Type Wan’ Collection is inspired by my lifelong personal experiences with type one diabetes, and the experiences of my diabetic brothers and sisters. Managing type 1 diabetes is a full-time career, everything you do demands maximum planning.
I now use a Diabetic Pump that slowly releases fast acting insulin (Novorapid) throughout the day as well manually inputting meal data such as Carbohydrate intake when eating. The diabetic pump is connected to my stomach using a wire to transfer the insulin, this wire, as many pump us- ing diabetics will tell you, catches on everything you can think of, most notably door handles.
Other issues with type 1 diabetes are that venturing out you must have instant access to lifesaving aides such as: sugar and carbohydrates to alleviate a hypoglycaemic episode, a blood glucose monitoring kit in case your phone is not able to read your diabetic sensor, and of course extra insulin and ‘parts’ for my pump, if I do encounter a door handle.
The silhouettes have been inspired by brutalist architecture. I have drawn inspirations from how brutalist structures do not hide their irregularities, rather they show them off, this is how I feel about my struggles with man- aging my diabetes. I want to show how proud I am of my how much I have been able to accomplish.
Fashion that allows this type of freedom is limited to khaki combats, fleeces with functional pockets and I don’t believe I have ever left the house without a bag of some sort.
The ‘Type Wan’ Collection offers durable and functional garments with an innovative pocket design that features an open bottom and space in be- hind to safely keep the pump wire concealed from snagging, along with functional pockets for all pump using type 1 diabetics tools of the trade. As well as offering a vibrant colour palette that directly reflects the insulin I grew up using.
INSPIRATION - The inspiration for this collection comes from a lifelong personal experience of type 1 diabetes. The silhouettes have been inspired by brutalist architecture, drawing inspiration such as how brutalist structures do not hide their irregularities, rather show them off. Much like how I feel about my struggles with diabetes, an 'invisible' disease. I am proud of how much i have been able to accomplish and want to show it off.
COLOUR/TEXTURE - The inspiration for this was from early 2000's medical nostalgia. Spending much of my youth into adolescence, in hospital waiting rooms, diabetic appts etc. I remember how shiny, plastic and bright everything was. I associate these colour with safety or danger, contrasting colours so that everything was easily identified. The colour of my collection directly corresponds with the insulin pens I remember most from my youth. Insulin is synthetic hence why my fabrics are mostly man made, with a nod to former use of pigs insulin with a garment made from organic cotton.
Fabrics used: Ripstop, Polar Fleece(Polyester), jersey stretch organic cotton.
The idea was to create hard wearing, comfortable garments.
DEVELOPMENTAL SKETCHES - The development of my collection has been inspired initially by brutalist architecture, then infused with inspiration from streetwear and functional wear clothing.
GROUP PHOTO - LEFT TO RIGHT:
OUTFIT 1 - NOVORAPID
OUTFIT 2 - LANTUS
OUTFIT 3 - HUMULIN
