Corset Revival by Cathy Neale- Rebel Reign

The Story Behind the Corset: The Corset Revival project is an exploration of
reconstruction, identity, and power, using the corset as both material object and cultural
symbol. Historically, the corset has existed at the intersection of control, femininity,
performance, and resistance. In this work, I reclaim it as a site of transformation not
something to be preserved or replicated, but dismantled, challenged, and rebuilt to
speak to contemporary narratives of strength and self-definition.
This corset was created entirely through a process-led approach. Rather than working
from a pre-existing pattern, I drafted the structure from scratch, allowing the form to
evolve through trial, error, and repeated reconstruction. The process itself became
integral to the final outcome, with mistakes and adjustments informing the exaggerated
silhouette and architectural shape. This method reflects my wider practice, where
making is not linear, and imperfection becomes a tool for discovery rather than
something to erase.
Materials were sourced primarily through dismantling and reuse. Elements from the
original corset were salvaged and combined with fabric and boning taken from another
deconstructed corset and a wedding dress garments traditionally associated with
ceremony, expectation, and restraint. These were intentionally recontextualised within a
gothic punk aesthetic. A black tablecloth was introduced as a primary textile, valued for
its weight, texture, and domestic history, and later repurposed again to create
accompanying knicker shorts. This layering of material histories reinforces the concept
of revival rather than replacement.

Additional components such as grommets, safety pins, diamanté studs, and hardware
were drawn from my existing studio stash and donated materials. While not all elements
originated from the same garments, their inclusion reflects a sustainable, resource led
approach rooted in reuse, accumulation, and community contribution rather than mass
production.
Burlesque is a key influence throughout the work. The elongated length and extended
neckline, combined with exaggerated hips, draw from burlesque traditions of theatrical
costume and controlled reveal. Rather than minimising the body, the silhouette
celebrates presence, confidence, and autonomy. The corset becomes performative not
in service of spectacle alone, but as a tool for empowerment and self authorship.
The garment is intentionally divided into two visual identities. One side is refined and
elegant, featuring lace, embroidery, and softer detailing; the other is raw and punk,
incorporating straps, exposed hardware, and industrial elements. This contrast reflects
my design ethos under the Rebel Reign label — where edgy meets elegance — and
mirrors the duality of strength and vulnerability, structure and freedom.
Sustainability within this project is embedded rather than aestheticized By working with
reclaimed garments, donated components, and existing studio materials, the piece
challenges the idea that innovation requires newness. Jewellery created from repurposed
soda tabs forming a necklace, bracelet, and garter extends this philosophy beyond the
garment, transforming waste into adornment and reinforcing the narrative of
transformation. Ultimately, My Crowned in Ruin corset stands as a statement of
reclamation of materials, of bodies, and of stories asserting that fashion can be both
critical and theatrical, sustainable and unapologetically expressive.