Sisterly apparel

London – Fashion graduate E Wha Lim has presented a subverted notion of religious attire, bringing to life a fictional character of a young nun.

• The collection was shown at the Royal College of Art MA Womenswear graduate show
• Pieces reflected the struggle between the character’s religious beliefs and her unwillingness to conform

Inspired by sensual portraits of nuns by Peter Lindbergh, Lim’s collection, La Religieuse, is both humble and daring. It featured traditional habits deconstructed with sheer panels, ornamental trimmings and free-flowing silhouettes, predominantly in black.

‘This is the journey of a girl trying to break free from the rules and expectations of religion and society,’ Lim tells LS:N Global. The transition is reflected in her work, with her pre-collection drawing more literally on the devout character of Christian iconography. The mood of the final collection is humble but free-spirited, portraying a balance between piety and individualism. ‘I want to show the respect of tradition through the eyes and interpretation of a young modern girl,’ says Lim.

The Big Picture: Designers across disciplines are deconstructing Christian iconography to reflect on its rich symbolism. For more on creatives charting this unorthodox design direction, read our Post-faith Macro Inspire.