Claire O’Connor’s installation at D-light studios was in support of fellow fashion designer Sylwia Kaminska and an event organized by her friends as a fundraiser entitled “Mind your own Fashion Business” which took place in D-Light studio’s on 15-December 2011. Designers, models, hairdressers, make-up artists, stylists etc gave up their night free of charge to offer makeovers and fashion tips to the general public. The night was as much about raising awareness to how difficult the fashion industry is as it was about fundraising. So in keeping with the theme Claire O’Connor’s installation depicted a homeless scene. The spring/summer 2012 collection was tossed about the set while four models wore some of the avant-garde pieces, which included a beautiful chiffon dress with a leather bodice. In the centre was the designer herself, looking pretty disheveled wrapped in a blanket, equipped with a paper cup and sitting on a floor of cardboard, some dress patterns, a copy of Italian Vogue and a sheet of cardboard with a personal message to one of the most influential people in the industry that read: ‘STEVEN MEISEL, PLEASE HELP ME, I DONT DRINK, DONT SMOKE, DONT TAKE DRUGS, I JUST WANT TO BE A FASHION DESIGNER. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. CLAIRE O CONNOR’
