Part art form, part commentary, fashion is a public-facing billboard for our self image, political views and creative individuality. Synchronously, street art has been a medium for artists to reach the public sector in an uninhibited and sometimes confrontational manner. From Banksy’s murals to Mademoiselle Maurice origami cranes on the walls of Paris, to formal and informal street art in our towns, street artists use the unconventional as their canvas and in doing so incite controversy, awe, humor and pause.

In this studio, students will research and explore local street art, learn about the artists (if possible) and messaging as inspiration to create “Street Couture,” or high fashion architectural wearables which interpret the artist’s work. Students will explore their local street artists in Central Square in Cambridge and Karakoy in Istanbul and engage in a rigorous conceptual and material exploration to form architectural wearables.