ME & I
Designer: TEO CaiQing
Bachelor of Fashion Design (Honours)
ME & I are inspired by Daniel Keyes’ novel- “The Minds of Billy Milligan”. The eight looks in ME & I is inspired from the 8 out of 24 known personality states of Billy Milligan, each garment represents one of the 8 selected personalities of Milligan. Through this collection, the designer wishes to communicate the core message: there is no shame in seeking mental health help. People struggling with mental illness are often reluctant to seek help out of shame, and fear of abuse, discrimination and disapproval. This particularly happens in Asian culture, where mental illness has been stigmatised, and people are still misinformed and miseducated about mental health. Ultimately, the collection aims to challenge the mental illness stigma and create a new normal to seek help for one’s mental health.
Each Garment represent 1 of the 8 Selected Personalities of Milligan
THE SPLIT, representing Billy Milligan, the core personality.
THE CHAIN, representing Tommy, a 16 years old escape artist.
THE SHADOW, representing Danny, the keeper of fear who suffered from stepdad’s abuse.
THE DOLL, representing Christene, the 5 years-old-girl who does nothing but play.
THE PUZZLE, representing teacher, the combination of the other 23 personalities.
THE THUNDER, representing Ragen, an aggressive Yugoslavian.
THE HANDS, representing Allen, a manipulator who was smart and good in communicate.
THE LOVE, representing Adalana. She is a lesbian who desired for love.
