Ione Sousa – Embodying the metaphysical with digital fashion

Before starting my studies at AUB, I scouted universities across the country and made my way there to get a feel for the environment and energy of each place. I was fortunate enough to meet the course leader (Penelope Norman) of MA Digital Fashion Innovation, who has a thorough knowledge of the field. AUB struck me with its welcoming environment, for the technical equipment they possess, the vibrant creativity that flows and the deep understanding of the tutors that help direct the way forward and provide the necessary tools to evolve.

With a background in multimedia (3D, animation, filmmaking and game development) cloth simulation captivated me and I wanted to specialise in digital fashion. As an artist at heart, the possibility to turn my 2D artworks into 3D animated works unlocked new workflows and new ways of thinking. It’s fulfilling to me to see someone wearing the art and moving in it, rather than just owning a static artwork; nonetheless, I find great value in both.

As a forward-thinking learner, the fact that the title of the course has Innovation gave me the room to explore new territories in the field of digital fashion. With the right supervision and encouragement, I reached stages that exceeded my expectations. My passion for art and tech collides in harmony in digital fashion, which serves as a medium that I envision playing a crucial role with emerging technological advancements.

The project I produced started with the curiosity of bridging digital and physical fashion, as the project evolved and I developed new levels of thinking, my curiosity manifested itself in bridging the metaphysical to the digital realm. By exploring spiritual concepts, I worked my way to translate these concepts into artistic expression and finally designed a fractal-themed collection. It was innovation at its core, since it was something that hadn’t been done before and only achievable with digital tools. My aspirations included creating a multidisciplinary project, and with the right collaboration the fashion collection was included as cover art and as a visual album for the mixtape Bout 2 Bloom, where each outfit corresponded to each song of the tape. I’m truly grateful for the platform and experience that AUB provided.

• During my studies, I became a brand ambassador for the South Korean digital fashion company Z-Emotion.
• Participated in a digital fashion competition and got selected to show my art in the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
• Created a unique digital fashion collection and brought it to life by creating 12 different music videos, with the emphasis of exploring distinct technical methods of production with various software.
• Created a 628-page book that covers the whole process.
• Prize-winner at the AUB Summer Show for Digital Fashion Innovation.

Connect with Ione on social media: Instagram | LinkedIn

You can also view the Bout 2 Bloom visual album on Youtube.