Repurpose, a fashion editorial photographed in London for Trend Privé Magazine, aimed to reimagine found and repurposed materials for elevated beauty portraiture: creating timeless images that contrast the disposable lifecycles of the materials within them.
Ranging from corrugated roofing sheets, metal grates, fish nets, bubble wrap, waste paper, and scrap wooden sheets, these materials – otherwise destined for the bin – were repurposed into set design for beauty portraits and fashion photography: eternalising what would otherwise be abandoned.
As a street photographer in London, I’ve been inspired by the materials and compositions I see on the street; namely, the textures found in materials left in piles in alleys and what’s left to waste. Often described as “found object photography”, some street photographers focus their work solely on documenting the items left behind.
For me, I’ve always been inspired by how I can bring these textures into my studio.
For example, the metal grate in the series was found on the side of the road, left to rust in the rain. It now has a home in my studio as a Cucoloris (an object that light is shone through to create unique patterns) and a background in this series. The crinkled paper came from an abandoned backdrop paper roll from another studio, the bubble wrap from packages, and many more.
Since moving to London, I’ve drawn inspiration for my fashion photography from what I see on the streets of my new city. My fashion editorial, Broken Windows Theory for 1883 Magazine, was similarly inspired by the “buffing” of graffiti on London’s streets.
Set designer Louis Toledo brought these sets to life at Cloud Theory Studio, alongside makeup artist Jade Mistry, a finalist in BBC’s Glow Up Season 7, and hairstylist Abi Igz.
Special thanks to models Christa Jackson and Melanie Fernandez, makeup assistant Ella Louise Tanner, set design assistant Maya Gunn, lighting assistant K Chien, and clothing provided by the 223 Agency.
Check out Repurpose in Trend Privé Magazine and my other recent editorial, Broken Windows Theory in 1883 Magazine. For more fashion series inspired by the streets of London, check out my street fashion photography from global fashion weeks.