The Collaboration STF x Gewerbemuseum Winterthur (FW25)
What does it mean, to be YOU?
Have you ever asked yourself what it means to be yourself? When are the moments when you truly feel like you?
The Story
To BE… yourself in today’s society often means fighting an inner battle.
A struggle between who you are and what is expected of you.
We live in a society where a certain “ideal image” exists. Those who do not fit into it are pushed aside and silenced. Within this ideal, queerness and expressive lifestyles have no place.
These pressures turn inward. People begin to hide parts of themselves to survive. The conflict happens within: protecting your identity while being forced into invisibility.
The look reflects this inner struggle and its outward impact — limited visibility, imposed silence, and resistance through self-expression
The glitter as a Statement
Why Glitter? Isn't that just cheap?
It’s not about luxury or perfection. It’s about making a statement.
To be loud, bold, and unapologetic.
Glitter has always been more than sparkle. It’s a symbol of resistance, visibility, and pride.
From drag culture, where glitter transforms the body into a celebration of identity, to queer protests where activists throw glitter as a sign of defiance, it shines because it refuses to be ignored.
In feminist movements like the “Glitter Revolution” in Mexico, pink glitter became a weapon against silence and oppression. In the LGBTQ+ community, “glitter bombing” was used to protest against discrimination with creativity and joy instead of violence. And on stage, glitter has always stood for freedom, transformation, and power.
What the look includes
The outfit consists of three main elements, each reflecting the inner struggle of being yourself in today’s society.
The top is tightly laced at the front and back, symbolizing restriction and inner pressure. Surrounding it are adjustable bandages, which can be tied individually to represent the level of protection one needs.
The pants are wide-cut, with circular seams running around the legs, symbolizing the cycles we often find ourselves trapped in within society. Adjustable buckles at the hem allow the pants to be transformed, shifting between feelings of confinement and freedom.
The accessories further extend the story. The hooded scarf represents the armor worn by fighters before a battle, shielding emotions from the outside world. Its vibrant colors celebrate queerness and the possibility of a world that is still colorful. The headpiece, made of bandages, covers one eye and part of the mouth. It symbolizes how society suppresses queer visibility and silences those who are too loud, bold, or colorful — but like the pants’ buckles, the mouth can be opened, reflecting resistance and the reclaiming of voice.
Together, the pieces visualize inner conflict, protection, and the tension between hiding and expressing oneself.
Material Disclaimer
The materials showcase a commitment to re-use. We used deadstock fabrics from Fabrichouse.com.
The top’s bandages and gloves feature black glittery knitwear, while the body with the laceing stays simple in black mesh. The trousers, crafted from a doubleface. The bold Scarf draping is created from a bright, colorful knit fabric with a pleated effect to mimic the look of plissé