When does fashion simply dress a body, and when does it construct - a body - a persona? Situated between restriction and liberation, the corset functions as both a physical structure and a performative symbol.

This Bachelor’s thesis investigates the corset as a catalyst for identity construction in stage performance, positioning design as an active agent rather than a secondary layer. Drawing on historical corsetry and contemporary icons such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and Dita von Teese, the collection investigates how garments participate in the creation of presence.

The practical component translates these ideas into a spotlight-ready collection, developed in dialogue with three Swiss musicians, each with a distinct visual andconceptual identity. Departing from conventional processes where garments are selected retrospecively, design here initiates persona formation. By fostering a symbiotic exchange between fashion and music, the project argues that inderdisciplinary collaboration enables more coherent and impactful stage identities.

The resulting performative looks, anchored by the corset, negotiate tension between control and freedom. Defined by corsetry and pleating, the silhouettes oscillate between rigidity and fluidity. Crafted through hand draping, pleating, and embroidery, the collection advocates for craftsmanship and a slower approach to fashion. On stage, garments frame the body and gain meaning through movement, defining the corset as a framework for becoming.