If you were to walk to a museum, tear your favourite work of art off the wall and make it into a clothing line, than you would be a vandal version of this latest designer.
Tulsi MacRae shows off her latest collection, Art Off The Wall, at the TFI Buyers Brunch
Artist and designer, Tulsi MacRae made her fashion debut during the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s Buyers Brunch last year at Toronto Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016, where she showcased her original collection, aptly named Art Off The Wall. Tulsi curated her artistic talents at Seneca College in the Fashion Arts Program where she created her first collection, Eccentricity in 2013.
“Garments are more like wearable art and so I came up with the idea of Art off the wall”
Photos by, Ruby Wray
At first glance, I loved her garments. MacRae is first and foremost an artist, bringing her artistic vision to her designs. “My art is mostly inspired by fashion illustration.” said MacRae. Reflective of her garments in her display, which included short dress tunics with vintage vogue illustrations strewn across the fabrics in red and gold. “I love painting fashion figures and portraits in an expressionist abstract way,” she said.
Her artistic talents were nurtured by family tradition–her deceased mother being her main inspiration. “My mother influenced me a lot because she taught me how to paint and express my creativity, as she was an artist herself,” said MacRae.
The name of the collection, Art Off The Wall, is like an ode to the nostalgia of art being trapped in a museum. “Garments are more like wearable art. I want the art on my garments to no longer be just hanging on the wall but to go with the person who wears it,” said MacRae.
The way that she creates wearable art is by a wearable technology process called 3D Printing. The newfound popular technique can be found at locally-made clothing store, Nuvango at 639 Queen St W., where artist’s illustrations are digitally printed onto fabric.
Designers, like MacRae love the flexibility and creativity of creating their own unique prints from their art. MacRae starts painting on a canvas and 3D prints the image onto her designs. “I love painting and feel the happiest when I’m doing art.”
Be Art, Speak Art, Love Art, is the mantra behind Tulsi MacRae’s designs and she hopes to bring that mantra to the fashion industry. “My design goals are to make the fashion industry a little more artistic, colourful and bright!”
You can find Tulsi MacRae’s designs at Coconuda Boutique at 1897 Avenue Rd. in Toronto and on her website.