Fiona Mills-Hughes

TEXTILES

May 8

BIO

Fiona Mills-Hughes is a sewing enthusiast from Toronto, Canada.

She works mostly in garment construction, focusing on costumes in particular. Her costumes are often based in fantasy and can be quite playful at times. Fiona finds a lot of inspiration in history, especially historical fashion and loves to pull imagery and silhouettes from the past to be used in a more modern way.

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CAPSTONE PROJECT

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THE WOMAN BEHIND THE VEIL

My capstone consists of a dress and bonnet that is inspired by traditional Victorian mourning attire, and makes a statement on social expectations imposed on women in that era. A high mortality rate meant that the Victorians faced death on a near-daily basis. They had no choice but to immerse themselves in it. And in fact, the rituals they created around it brought them comfort and closure. My capstone explores these rituals — their significance and their history — including the decadent attire that went with them.

Further, as it was frequently women who bore the burden of these intense mourning practices (often alone), I am conducting this exploration from a feminist perspective. Therefore, the pieces I’ve created are factually and historically based, but interpreted through a lens of loneliness, frustration, and anger.

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