Under The Waves

Glasgow favourite, Betty Spoke combines the creation of bold and inspiring bespoke fashions with the ethos 'Buy less and choose well.' This philosophy, heralded by the likes of Vivienne Westwood, focuses on the detrimental impact of ‘fast fashion’ which seems to have consumed the country. 

Rather than obediently worshipping at the altar of the high street and its cheaper, mass-produced clothes, Betty Spoke suggests that we should invest in quality garments created with quality materials, making use of what we have by converting waste or useless materials into products of a higher worth.

In Spoke’s latest project, Collection Under the Waves, in association with the Southside Fringe, this idea of making use of quality materials, or ‘up-cycling’, has been taken to a new extreme. The installation showcases custom-made garments of both sculptural silhouette and intricate detail, substituting traditional fabrics for shells, trawler rope, nets and seaweed. The shapes are striking and unique, playing different aquatic elements against each other whilst maintaining beautiful form and structure. One dress in particular is covered entirely in shells, echoing the ragged shell-encrusted rocks the model is balancing on in the photographs. These marine inspired creations have been displayed in the surreal yet fitting environment of an unoccupied Edwardian swimming pool at the Govanhill Baths which compliments the works perfectly.

The exhibition comprises of some of the designers garments as well as photographs taken by Bartosz Madejski in the stunning setting of Fidra Island near North Berwick. It will be running at the Govanhill Baths from the 20-26 of May between 11am and 3pm.