# Project Description Breathing Companion Ruitong Cui Summary Final work College London College of Fashion Course MA Fashion Futures Graduation year 2025 This thesis critiques anthropocentrism and speciesism, using fashion design to reshape perceptions of animals and challenge traditional views of clothing. Through the creation of an interactive garment that mimics the behaviour and presence of a companion animal, this work aims to provoke critical reflection on the hierarchy between humans and non-human beings. The garment responds to the wearer with subtle movements, breathing-like rhythms, and reactive behaviours, positioning itself not as a passive object but as an active, sensing entity. Rather than simply serving the human body, the garment initiates a reciprocal relationship, inviting attentiveness, care, and negotiation. By shifting the role of clothing from a functional object to a companion presence, this project proposes an alternative model of coexistence. It challenges human-centred assumptions and encourages viewers to reconsider how intimacy, dependency, and companionship are constructed across species. Through design, the work questions deeply embedded hierarchies and promotes shared agency, where neither the human nor the garment holds complete control. Final work Breathing Companion The film begins by introducing the garment as a living entity, its subtle movements and presence reflecting a deeper, almost sentient interaction. As the wearer puts it on, she begins to notice how the garment responds—breathing, shifting, and adapting to her body. This moment of discovery sparks a gentle dialogue between human and garment, evolving into a mutual interaction that transcends the typical relationship between wearer and clothing. Over time, their connection deepens into a form of symbiosis, where neither leads nor follows. The garment becomes a companion, not an accessory, and their movement together represents a balance of reciprocal existence. The final dance sequence embodies this equal partnership, where both the wearer and the garment move in harmony, co-existing in perfect balance and reciprocity. This visual representation of mutual respect and cooperation is a central theme of the project, symbolizing a new approach to the interspecies relationship. Research and process Share this project This thesis critiques anthropocentrism and speciesism, using fashion design to reshape perceptions of animals and challenge traditional views of clothing. Through the creation of an interactive garment that mimics the behaviour and presence of a companion animal, this work aim... A link to this page has been added to your clipboard Browse related work Animal HumanConnection PostHuman Speculative Wearable