Cat Mednick

Cat Mednick

Materiality

Playtime!

In our society, adults are expected to dress for a serious world without much attention to comfort, freedom of movement, or individuality. For centuries, we have been told what is “appropriate” or “respectable” for adults to wear, with little room for self expression. After their early 20s, most people decide to stop wearing whimsical patterns or bright colors for fear of judgment. Children’s clothing, on the other hand, is built to be functional, colorful, and playful. Why should we not strive for those qualities as designers for adults?
Playtime! is a thesis collection exploring dress up and play for both adults and children. Using relaxed silhouettes, second hand yarn, and custom textiles and buttons, the collection transports wearers to a time when clothing was comfortable, colorful, and fun. Garments can be easily altered using snaps and buttons, allowing the wearer to customize their appearance. The collection includes five mix-and-match looks, two pairs of handmade shoes, a pair of knit socks, and a found object embellished bag, accompanied by a plush doll of the Cat Mednick brand mascot Goober and an illustrated sticker sheet. Playtime! invites people of all ages to experiment with self expression and reawaken the joy of playing.
Image: Look 1
Image: Look 2
Image: Look 3
Image: Look 4
Image: Look 5
Image: Crochet Caterpillar Appliqué
Image: 3D Printed Zipper Pull
Image: Cat Appliqué and 3D Printed Buttons
Image: Crochet Button Doll Heads
Image: Handmade Shoes with Bells and 3D Printed Buckles

Illustration and Motifs

To preserve coninuity, I established a set of motifs to appear throughout every facet of the collection, from the garments to the accessories to the lookbook. One of these motifs is my logo and brand ambassador, Goober, a smiling flower. I developed a custom Goober printed fabric, hand felted a Goober plush, etc, to ensure that Goober was a dominant motif in the collction.
Image: Handmade Goober Plush
Image: Found Object Bag
Image: Screenprinted Appliqué
Image: Found Objects Hairclips

Dolly Dress Up Sweater

The Dolly Dress Up Sweater combines play and fashion. It's snap-on clothing allows the wearer to dress Dolly to match their own outfit.
Image: Dolly Dress Up Sweater Front
Image: Dolly Dress Up Sweater Back
Image: Look 1 Flats
Image: Look 2 Flats
Image: Look 3 Flats
Image: Look 4 Flats
Image: Look 5 Flats
Image: Dolly Dress Up Sweater Flat
Image: Knit Socks
Image: Custom Playtime Sticker Sheet

Bio

Catherine (Cat) Mednick is a designer, illustrator, and artist inspired by fashion history and the nostalgia of childhood. Her custom textiles, handmade jewelry, shoe designs, and one of a kind accessories incorporate second hand textiles and found objects to create a connection between past and present that people of all ages can relate to. Through vibrant color and stylized fashion illustrations, Cat Mednick invites viewers into her whimsical world of play.

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