Tadhg James
they/their
Gender Trouble
‘Gender Trouble’ is about my early experiences in finding identity and self-expression. It draws on my ordeal with the National Gender Service through Saint John of God Hospital as a source of inspiration, and the anger, self-loathing, and confusion it created within me afterward.
I wanted to create a collection that conveys the emotions of gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia that I felt, through and from clothing, to an audience who may never experience these emotions. I revisited archived Instagram posts to remind myself of how I would ‘disguise’ myself in oversized clothing and heavy textiles.
The main elements of the collection are warped silhouettes, textures that make the wearer aware of the garment, and incorrect pattern placement.
Other external sources came from my appreciation for the music artist Ethel Cain—mainly her 2021 album Preacher’s Daughter—and the book Gender Trouble by Judith Butler.
Research