• BA Fashion Design

Tom Langton

3 Silhouettes

My name is Tom Langton.
As a menswear designer I am always interested in representing the conversation between masculinity and femininity. My collections are based on bodies of research rooted in literature, collected materials, photography and personal experience. My graduate collection is based on research conducted by the gender and social science theorist, Niall Hanlon, specifically his book ‘Masculinities, Care and Equality: Identity and Nurture in Men’s Lives’ (2012). Hanlon’s book examines a plethora of different themes, issues, truths and behaviours that shape modern day masculinity in Ireland. Most importantly, it explores how men are nurtured and cared for as they grow up, and how the relationships mothers and fathers have with their sons determine their identity. Within Hanlon’s writing I began to unpack and understand a direction to generate visual research and to define the material aesthetics. The material aesthetics for my collection have emerged from a process of visually researching and unpacking Hanlon’s writing. In particular, I focused on visual representations of maternal identification and motherly idolisation, and juxtaposed them with normative representations of male identity.