Francisca Castro Almeida ( BAST )
Contact:
francis.ca.art86@gmail.com
University/School:
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge School of Art
Location:
Anglia
Specialism:
About Me
BAST 𓃠 CONCEPTUAL FASHION DESIGNER, GRADUATE FROM ARU
Francisca Castro Almeida, also known as BAST, is a Conceptual Fashion Designer who is making a name for herself in the industry by focusing on revealing the truth behind human beings. Her unique approach to fashion design involves delving into dark topics that are often ignored or considered taboo by society and bringing them to light through her work.
“ Since I was a little girl, I was addicted to art and creating anything that made my heart fall into confort, that became an even bigger habit of mine as I grew older. Creating to heal. I went through many downs in life, and tend to overthink them for long periods of time, to the point in which I believe that such ‘traumas’ might just get stuck in my throat for all of my life, so, every time I fell onto that overthinking cycle, I had to put into my craft, I had to somehow speak it into the world without any words as if my life depended on it. “
INSPIRATION
Look from the inside.
The Spring/Summer Conceptual Collection, "Machiavellian," delves deep into the dark and cruel world of modern diet culture. This collection aims to shed light on the detrimental effects that this toxic culture has on society as a whole. The fashion line not only addresses the miserable feeling of hating one's own body and skin but also highlights the immense pressure individuals feel to change themselves for others' impossible expectations.
But there is more to it than just self-loathing and societal pressures; "Machiavellian" also illuminates the hatred felt towards those who perpetuate these harmful standards. The collection focuses on how people are made to feel inadequate by external sources like social media influencers, unrealistic beauty standards in advertising campaigns, or even well-meaning friends or family members. It aims to show off the parts of the body that people often hate or shame, from inside to the outside.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
DETAIL
Recreating damage.
When it came to selecting the fabric for my project, I had a clear vision in mind. I wanted something that was rough and easy to manipulate so that I could experiment with tie-dye techniques. After considering various options, denim emerged as the perfect choice. Not only is it effortless to work with, but it also adapts seamlessly to the body's contours, making it an excellent canvas for creating unique designs. In addition to denim, I needed another fabric that would represent the inner workings of the human body while still feeling like skin. It was crucial for this material to be striking and stand out against the denim backdrop. After much thought and consideration, I decided on red metallic leather as my binding fabric. The combination of these two fabrics created a stunning contrast that captured exactly what I envisioned when starting this project. The ruggedness of denim combined with the sleekness of metallic leather gave off an edgy yet sophisticated vibe.
“Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.” - Niccolò Machiavelli
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