Sincerely, Devin Ray
In the early 20th century, it is keen to know that sex was a dangerous whisper upon city streets. With married couples having separate twin-sized beds and the somewhat contractual chaste kiss here and there — intimacy was as forbidden as a pair of scissors in TSA. When married couples get that one night to converse long and slow, the woman enters the master bedroom in silk or lace with her pin curls and not-too-bright lipstick ready to "go steady." As we look back into history, it appears that we understand attraction by its physical form. Mini-skirts, red nail polish, a peek at a thong, a wet t-shirt, some garters, and of course, a corset. Good thing it's not 1950 anymore because lingerie doesn't have to be what one wears in the bedroom.
The garments that Devin creates bring forth breath to self-love and reflection. Kinderwhore is a concept that aspires to her work; its juxtaposition of feminine and childlike silhouettes with these female figures drape power. Their brashness, unfiltered words, and bodies are like scrapped fabric one turns into a vessel of patchwork. Ray moves off of vulnerability and various forms of love along with women who embody the kinderwhore theme including one of her favorite bands, Babes in Toyland.
In 2018, Devin moved to New York to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Graduating this spring — prepare your Congratulations now — she specializes in intimates and lingerie design. Her passion for design and corsetry shows in a matter of many ways. The first being one-of-ones and customs she's continuously made for varying buyers featuring embroidery, graphics, and velvet. Plus, if you take a look at her "Do You Remember" Zine, her vision collects the early decades before us, film noir, and a poeticism that shines through her sketches. In journals, you can see the step-by-step process of how her corsets became alive. From annotations to fabric selections and measurements became a divine piece of art in the form of frillies. It seems Ray's artistry isn't half-empty. Instead, it's a jar of overflowing ideas and collaged loves that give birth to a reflective form of feminity. There are curated photographs, hand scribbles, and stills from our favorite films, and we can infer in years to come — Devin's journals are an awaited auction.
"My journals usually act as diary entries for me, most of them are heavily interspersed with images collaged togetger as well as song lyrics, love letters, and things of the like. My journals catalog a part of the process that is more difficult for me to verbalize, and they are a representative of what I'm feeling in the moment of conceptualization." Devin says.
As all trends do, they take their moment to shine in the light again but in a modern twist. We have seen it since the uprising of windbreakers and mom jeans a couple of years ago, and now we're seeing it with more Edwardian and Gregorian uptakes. One in five people strolling down New York City in averagely hot weather will be wearing a corset. Or, one in ten people walking down G-Train Brooklyn during the winter will be wearing a corset under a North-Face Puffer. The point isn't statistics but a revelation to the revival of all things dainty. Something about mary janes or knee-high socks has brought out the schoolgirl in all of us which, meshes with the sexiness of wearing the supposed unmentionables. Devin Ray's take on corsetry has its peculiarity that other designers are still joggling their memory to find.
Devin's evolution of corsetry has mirrored time. Since the original corset, she created two years ago was loosely based around the 17th Century. Now, she's sculpting hourglass shapes and styles that reflect the 18th and 19th centuries. Devin Ray is a designer filled with passion and poise, creating a body of work that'll trail down history. Look out for upcoming availabilities for commissions and potential drops — you don't want to miss it. Check out her website and look into her world.
