Unearthing GAIA: Unravelling Threads of Life
Yasmine Davies untangles the Threads of Life scene from this year’s LRFS show.
This year’s Leeds RAG Fashion Show raised a record total of £15,000 for three worthy charities by curating a creative experience focused on the ideas of biophilia and how the innate connection we have through clothing and movement relates to nature, encompassing them all to represent GAIA – the ancient Greek goddess of the earth.
The evening’s major responses to this theme were split into four sections: Ancestral Whispers, a reflection of the communal living of our ancestors, Bodies of Water, a contemplation of life beneath the surface, Ghost in the machine, showing the opposite, a disconnect to the earth that represents a ghostly purgatory, and finally, the scene that I will be unpacking today (and by bias, my particular favourite), Threads of life, signifying Gaia’s reclamation of the earth.
As the closing scene of the entire show, Threads of Life showed many elements that were able to encapsulate the overall theme of Gaia through sustainable resources and ethereal movement and atmosphere.
Some of the designs focused on showcasing our unity to nature through certain fabrics: Crochet was used in multiple ensembles as head pieces or embellishments, which not only is becoming a popular activity within eco-friendly minded young people due to its accessibility and affordability, but is also an incredibly creative way of making something new out of the old. Another innovative use of recycled material as clothing was designer’s Liv Read and Katie Edward’s beautiful ensemble made entirely out of paper! Moreover, the inclusion of outerwear gave a very down-to-earth representation of humanity’s connection to the earth, with multiple models sporting structured Jackets and windbreakers with a map-patterned fabric. This shows the intrinsic man-made link to nature. Mohair, I found to be an interesting choice some of the pieces, although it is a durable and long-lasting synthetic and a trend prediction for 2026 fashion, its ethical qualities are disputed towards the ways in which it is harvested. – however, this was my one and only qualm!
Others had incorporated actual natural elements into their outfits. Eliza Longcroft designed a structured corset to resemble the texture of a tree trunk and Daisy Pyke designed one of my favourite looks of the evening – a visually spectacular dress that is strikingly similar to a Venus fly trap. Twigs, conkers and ivy were used as accessories, as well as flower accents to the models’ hair and face, which felt slightly reminiscent of Minnie Riperton’s iconic look of baby’s breath crowning her natural hair! Authenticity and the sentiment of re-connecting with the physical environment were beautifully represented with most models walking on the runway bare foot. In my opinion this truly brought the theme to life!
There were various elements of the overall runway that added to the impact of the clothing such as the music and sound affects that played whilst the models walked. My ears pricked up when I heard ‘Farafina Mousso’ by Lubiana came on, as it not only has a beautiful melody but uses the divine feminine to represent Gaia as a deity.
My own interpretation of Threads of life is how the life of clothing is everlasting through its ability to be worn and re-worn. The threads we wear that have been worn by others unites us and can bring forth an outfit full of life, originality and personal expression. This scene as a whole I would say embodies what creative director Nia Southworth said to be the “reclamation and retirement of Gaia itself”, which puts the focus from Gaia to humanity, as it is our responsibility to watch over nature and sustain it!