I don’t think I’ll ever look at fabric scraps the same way again. Today I wanted to reflect on the garment I made to attend the Finding Harmony Film premiere , I really enjoyed the time spent breathing new life into forgotten things. My dress for the Finding Harmony premiere is something I am very proud of and what makes it so special isn’t just how it looks, it’s what it represents. Every inch of it began as something discarded: offcuts from the studio, deadstock fabrics left unused, materials that might otherwise have been forgotten.
From the beginning, I knew I wanted the dress to echo the heart of the film, being balance, renewal and connection. There’s something poetic about wearing fragments of the past, reshaped into something entirely new, onto a red carpet that usually celebrates excess. Rather than sourcing something new, I began in my own studio. I used deadstock fabrics from previous collections, alongside small off-cuts and scraps that would typically be discarded pieces often considered too small to serve a purpose.
I transformed those fragments into handcrafted flowers. Nature is a constant reference point in my work, and with the documentary centred on our relationship with the natural world, I wanted the design to quite literally bloom from what already existed. I layered the scraps to create petal like textures, building dimension and movement into each flower. To finish them, I used beads taken from discarded jewellery, carefully handstitching them at the centre to resemble pollen giving each piece a sense of life and detail.
I then hand-placed the flowers across the corset, composing them one by one, allowing the garment to evolve organically.
Even with the remaining scraps, I was able to create a matching bag proving that when we approach materials with creativity and intention, very little needs to go to waste.
Through the Modern Artisan Programme with The King’s Foundation, I’ve learned how true luxury lies in craftsmanship, responsibility and thoughtful production. Creating this piece for the premiere was a meaningful way to bring those values into practice.
It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t restrictive it’s an opportunity to reimagine what’s possible. And I hope it encourages others to experiment, repurpose and see potential where others might see waste.
Wearing this dress wasn’t just about fashion, it was about intention. It’s proof that beauty doesn’t need to be newly made to shine. Sometimes, harmony is simply about giving what already exists another chance to bloom.
If you want to see more of the dress check out my Instagram @isabellepenningtonedmead
Thank you for reading!
With love and intention,
Isabelle x
credits: Harley King, Isabelle Pennington Edmead