MARY VARALE

This garment was inspired by Mary Varale, Italian pioneer of the female mountaineering of the ’30’s, as part of my final year project and exhibition at Wimbledon College of Arts, London. 

She began climbing in 1924 and despite her outstanding athletic skills she had to fight against the prevailing male chauvinism in the first half of 1900. 

The interpretation was supported by several researches through photographs, original garments and testimonies. 

The construction of the garment was made from scratch using cutting-on-the-stand and paper pattern. The jacket was dyed red, a color often used for sportswear during that time. The pattern on the scarf, based on floral designs of the time, was screen printed on dyed blue fabric. Each piece was carefully distressed to give the garment a more worn out finish. The undergarments are a reinterpretation of a 1930’s model. 

The costume was donated to Museo Della Montagna in Turin as part of their archive collection.