Megha Joseph
MSc Fashion Design and Management, Cochin
Valour Vanguard – JD Design Awards 2024
Naomi Elizabeth John, MSc student in Fashion Design and Management, has worked on the upcoming Spring/Summer 2025 collection, “The Valour Vanguard” for the theme of Mulan. The garments are to be designed under the motif where the women, breaking all barriers, have the power to achieve the impossible in military occupations. Imagining women as a strong nucleus of the armed forces, powerful and very much contesting the societal norms, just like Mulan-from being a duty-bound daughter to a fierce war-hardened warrior. The utility of utility takes a different approach altogether as most of the designs are in camouflage hues interpreted for each item in some quirky avatars, signifying the juxtaposition of military garb of yore with today’s fashion. The material chosen is linen, excellent for the purpose: it is serviceable and durable enough to pass for both military and everyday wear. Variations in pocket sizes suggest functionality and flexibility as overriding elements of design, while metal parts bring functionality with tactical fastenings that have a practical function. Adaptability and resourcefulness-both in military service and as a model of modern womanhood-are thus presented as design ideals. With utilitarian design and paying homage to Mulan’s heritage, the collection breathes the very spirit of modern female warriors’ courage, power, and resourcefulness. The point behind the collection is supposed to break down societal expectations of women as being bold, strong, and capable of wielding guns in the military.
ILLUSTRATIONS & BOARD
The idea behind Valour Vanguard followed inspiration from a movie about a young woman who broke her mold for family and the homeland. This is a powerful tale that challenges people’s traditional gender realities and brings the heroine to the audience, in particular women and girls, as an independent and strong character who overachieves beyond the boundaries of expected conduct. The book thus represents cultural change where more and more women are becoming incorporated into military roles, role models that inspire generations of young people to participate in conventionally masculine professions. This puts their successes in the spotlight and gives attention to the influence of being inclusive and empowering the world to bring about transformation in the armed forces landscape globally.
Valour Vanguard celebrates the legacy of Mulan and the courage and empowerment theme by envisioning a future where women always push boundaries and redefine the norms. Celebrating the strengths and contributions of women, the range honors their resilience and determination in trying circumstances for broader recognition across roles. Such change will bring about a better, more inclusive, and fairer future both within the armed forces and in the civilian world.
The ‘Valour Vanguard’ is a Spring/Summer 2025 collection that fits into key concepts such as strength, power, harmony, and oneness. This spring collection sees a future where women will dominate the population in the army, wearing camouflage colors like beige, brown, and green. These colors are full of energy and strength while somehow connected to nature. She epitomizes the flexibility and ingenuity required of military service and also of a modern woman today, and the choices made in this collection look really very utility-wear oriented. The sense of this collection artistically fuses utilitarian design with a sense of paying tribute to Mulan’s legacy, thus embodying the courage and strength yet also what defines a modern female warrior. By being bold, strong, and able to stand out and really excel in the military, it rips societal expectations about women.
JDDA 2024
The Valour Vanguard collection can be said to show off luxurious linen fabric, with durability and breathability, textures, and softness in each garment. Premium choice of fabrics ensures comfort and durability aptly as well. All the pieces sport gunmetal buttons and zippers and diverse pocket sizes. This was done so as to increase functionality as well as pragmatic aspirations associated with this collection. Richly intended pockets make the collection as much use-friendly as possible.
While the color palette of the Valour Vanguard collection drew inspiration from camouflage hues, it encompasses a mesmerizing spectrum of tones from beige to brown and green. These colors are not only pretty, but they also carry deep symbolism. Brown is considered grounding. The wholesome essence imbued in brown grounds one to earth-the meaning of sustainability, health, dependability, reliability, and connection with nature. The very word green comes to mind with the thought of nature itself. It represents growth, harmony, and strong emotions. Restore and bring new life to the pieces: befitting pieces that should breathe freshness and vibrancy within the collection. Beige brings the warmth of brown with crispness in a representation of energy and strength, thereby offering a well-balanced, dynamic aesthetic.
Naomi Elizabeth John whose collection “Valour Vanguard”, is inspired by Mulan, celebrating women’s empowerment in military roles. The collection was awarded as Best Prêt-à-Porter Collection
Naomi Elizabeth John
MSc Fashion Design and Management, Cochin
www.jddesignawards.com
