Graduate is shortlisted for global design show

Winners of the Gucci-backed competition will be decided by a public vote

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Winners of the Gucci-backed competition will be decided by a public vote

Published

11 April 2024

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Fashion textiles graduate Gary Odufeso has been shortlisted for a global design show in collaboration with fashion house royalty Gucci.

The UEL alum, who graduated earlier this year, has been selected from thousands of entries from around the world to be featured in Arts Thread's Global Design Graduate Show 2022.

Now in its third edition, the show is open to art and design students - undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate - in any related creative discipline, located anywhere in the world.

Gary's end-of-year collection, My Autistic Mind, has been shortlisted in the Fashion, Accessories, Textiles category of the competition and will be judged alongside a competitive field of designers and creatives from cities including Milan, New York, Paris, Seoul, Berlin, Hong Kong, Antwerp, Ho-Chi-Minh, Barcelona and Melbourne.

Showcased at London Fashion Week earlier in the year, My Autistic Mind features a series of customised and up-cycled denim and street wear, which are informed by Gary's own experience of living with autism.

Speaking about the collection, Gary said, "My Autistic Mind is about the experiences and challenges that I've faced living with Asperger's. I wanted to express what I go through, showing diary illustrations and symbols of how I feel."  

 

UEL fashion textiles' graduate Gary Odufeso models a piece from his collection, My Autistic Mind

 

Alongside the collection, Gary, pictured wearing one of his My Autistic Mind designs, created a film and soundscape documenting his creative process and personal journey to showcase himself and his brand.

My Autistic Mind will now be judged by a panel of esteemed industry experts from global brands such as Levi's, Lululemon, Nordstrom, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Hugo Boss as well as creative directors, fashion writers and editors. There will be a public vote to allow the global audience to see and reward the submissions.

The public vote closes at midnight on 9 October with the global winners announced shortly after.

Speaking about being shortlisted for Global Design Graduate Show 2022, Gary said, "I'm still in shock that my collection has been shortlisted. I literally found out when I checked the Arts Thread's website and saw my name and my project featured!

"I'm so proud and so very grateful to the industry experts who have shortlisted me. I hope that by being showcased on this platform, My Autistic Mind raises awareness of autism and helps people to understand that we're not all the same. I also hope that my project connects and inspires those living with autism."

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