Ella Brown

My concept explores the reality of growing up by highlighting the darker, often hidden messages in fairytales. These stories, like Alice in Wonderland, present complex themes such as mental illness and trauma beneath their whimsical surfaces, reflecting real-world struggles children face—especially young girls. I want to merge fantasy and reality in my work, using elements like imaginary friends and childhood chaos to reflect emotional depth. The design will mimic a child’s perspective—messy, unfocused, and raw—centering around a dramatic, fairytale-style dress to symbolize the emotional weight of maturing.