ITS Contest 2022 Headwear collection by Ruby Mellish

Introducing the bag collection by ITS Contest Accessories finalist Ruby Mellish, winner of the ITS Special Mention powered by Luxottica. Reflecting on one’s own sense of self over the course of lockdown. The collection exhibits the impact of isolation on Ruby’s perception of identity. Historically, self-portraiture was created as a means of artistic self-expression, showing how we consider ourselves to appear to external viewers. Lockdown turned human interaction into taboo, leading Ruby to view herself as her own muse. Being the only accessible source of life inspiration, she began to document herself using modern self-photography technologies. Her eyes became a tool to question her sense of self-perception, their repetition and melted effect symbolises endless personal points of view. Using the transparent quality of acetate allowed her to slightly expose the wearer’s eyes, an integral part of the concept to transfer her own perceptions onto others. Luxottica comment on assigning this special mention to Ruby: “We found the attempt and the depth with which the candidate has approached the investigation of a change aimed at the sefie-generation very interesting, with timely references to our own field of operation.” ITS Contest is an international award for emerging designers set up in Trieste in 2002, open for all young fashion and accessories designers who believe in their ideas despite everything. It navigates the global creative currents to discover and promote talent