5 Elements
An avant garde way of representing the 5 elements of nature though fashion and styling
The five elements aims to show people what our surroundings i.e. nature around us is made up of through fashion. In an era where we see every other person talking about global warming, and the effects we’ve caused to our mother Earth mindlessly, we need to take a step back and look at what we have and what we’re losing, the true beauty of our Earth, through this project she hopes people realize what they’re losing out on and if each person takes small measures to save our planet we can try to restore it to some extent if not to its fullest. The five elements of nature – Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Ether are the inspiration behind this project of hers. Each element has been depicted with a monochromatic color tone along with elements that represents that particular element. Right from the nails to the shoes and the garments, detailed attention was given to style and design each look.
All the garments displayed in these pictures aren’t stitched entirely so that the fabrics and the clothes can be repurposed for future requirements, some of the fabrics have already been used to make other garments. This was done to minimize waste and to use our resources sustainably.
The action of Air comes under the purview of breath. The earth is surrounded by Air, and is considered to be both hot and wet. Air is the element of intelligence, creativity, and beginnings. The look has been styled with a garment that has been inspired by the clouds and the accessories have silver tones with white notes, crystal earrings, white strap heels. The hair has a slicked back look to depict the wind blowing, with the make up being light contoured base, nude lips and blue- white eye makeup with crystals and the nails have a white marble effect depicting the clouds.
Fire has been an important part of all cultures and religions from pre-history to modern day and was vital to the development of civilization. Fire has three forms: fire, lightning and the sun; and
is associated with strength, activity, blood, and life-force. It is also seen as highly purifying and protective, consuming impurities and driving back the darkness.
For fire, the garment has red and yellow tones depicting the color of fire accessorized with a golden strap high heels, gold chains, cuffs for the hand and ear to give a powerful bold look without overpowering the other elements like the red nail polish, bright red lips with gold cut crease eyes with gold and red highlights.
Water is the element of emotion and the unconscious, as opposed to the conscious intellectualism of air. Water is one of two elements that have a physical existence that can interact with all of the physical senses.
The figure hugging dress and the draped tissue fabric is a quintessential part of the look as it depicts the flow of water correlating to the slender curves of a women. White crystals have been used as body makeup to depict the sparkle that is formed when the light hits the surface of water, with crystal accessories. The wet hair makes her looks as though she has risen from a bed of water with the duey blue eye makeup and the glossy nude lips
Earth is the element of stability, humbleness, fertility, materiality, potential, and stillness. Earth can also be an element of beginnings and endings, or death and rebirth, as life comes from the ground and then decomposes back into the earth after death.
A strapless figure hugging green dress, with a one side detachable train, and a corset made of twigs, this look has used various elements of Earth. The look is accessorised with a colourful flower crown, shoes made with a variety of flowers and leaves. The make up inspired from the lush greens, with line art near above the eyebrow, green-gold eye shadow, nude-green ombre lips with hair being light and flowy with a little edge and nails decorated with flower petals.
The fifth element of nature varies between each culture, but the widely known 5th element is Ether, which is the material that fills the region of the universe above the terrestrial sphere. The concept of aether was used in several theories to explain several natural phenomena, such as the traveling of light and gravity.
This look depicts that even in vacuum, light can pass through it by using metallic body and face paint that trickles upward the body. The garment is a tight fit black full length, full sleeve low neck dress and is accessorized with ring like earrings, finger ring and bracelet that represents the gravity that can be felt in ether with silver and black nail art, and a pulled back hair with a high upward knot tied with metallic wires.
Designing & Styling – Aishwarya Raghunath
Designing & Styling team – Supriya & Kushi
Photography – Vedesh Rajan
Photography team – Anand
Models – Shri (Air), Apporva (Fire), Ananya (Water), Simran (Earth) & Maryam (Ether)
Make up artist – Asheem Das
Hair Stylist – Manileima Singha
Studio – Studio Jumbos