Corpcore, Published in Something Different Magazine Fall 2023
From the Designers Kiernan & Hannah: “We created seven different personas, each capturing different elements of corporate fashion and culture. This was so much fun to work on, and we joke that we could have kept going on and on. Sometimes it’s our everyday surroundings, la vie quotidienne, and those quiet moments of waiting and wishing for something new that ultimately end up providing the most inspiration.”
I sat down with the designers over a cocktails in late winter of 2023 to discuss how to make to turn their concept into a photographic editorial. They brought sketches, moodboards, product designs, talent personas, and a bunch of thoughtful questions to the table. It was an immense project, involving not only an activated location but also several hand-sewn/designed garments and objects, needing a full cast of characters and crew. As first time collaborators, they asked if I thought they could sew & produce this shoot in less than 2 months with only available evenings and weekends. I told them I didn’t think they feasibly could. They exquisitely proved me wrong.
Services
Editorial Photography
Film Photography
Product Flatlay
Production & Publication Assist
Mr. Corp
Kiernan: We played with the notion that our clothing can say a lot about who we are and the kind of influence we project, whether it's real or just a facade. To challenge traditional masculinity, we dressed Mr Corp in a pink suit with a white and pink checkered lining. "Offline" pans across his briefcase like a stock market ticker to hint at the disconnect that can sometimes exist between what we make, what we market, and what we consume.
Corporate Athlete
Kiernan: We wanted this look to capture the essence of what we like to call the "corporate athlete." It's funny how much lingo from the sports world overlaps with the corporate world – things like "balancing act," "design sprints," "pivot," and "team building." In this look, we wanted to blend elements of both athletic gear with corporate attire. A sweater vest made of a breathable mesh, often reminiscent of a practice jersey (penny). A midi skirt made of the classic heathered gray look but comes with cinches and elastic for extra comfort. Those cliché yet timeless "Teamwork" posters became the inspiration behind blurring the lines of athlete and corporate.
Tie Guy
Kiernan: This was the first look out of seven that we conceived of, designed, and sewed. The oversized tie is a symbol of self-sabotage. We wanted to capture a heavy feeling, feeling weighed down and exhausted by expectations and deadlines.
the Intern
Kiernan: We often draw inspiration from external influences, but with Corpcore, we chose to question the everyday objects we interact with. Our initial concept, 'Weighted,' revolved around reimagining ordinary office items as functional bags. We liked the idea of this, so we thought what better way to tie back to the initial concept than a 45lb filing cabinet backpack — Corporate Weight. The blue sweater was inspired by the Dr. Seuss book “Sneetches on Beaches, a work that explores our urge to fit in through capitalism.
I.T.
Kiernan: Inspired by things we may not even consciously consider, the keyboard bag and rings draw inspiration from the ordinary objects we encounter in our daily lives. From the elegant simplicity of a coffee cup handle to the subtle curves of a keyboard mouse, these seemingly mundane elements have been transformed into functional accessories that celebrate the extraordinary potential in the ordinary.
the Secretary
Kiernan: Originally a play on workwear, this piece was designed with sitting in mind. Taking inspiration from the corporate cubicle where we sit for 8 hours of a day, we reconstructed a classic pencil skirt silhouette out of an object that is a new form of an office chair – an exercise ball.
This was probably the most difficult garment we sewed as the shape and material kept fighting us. The material continued to get stuck in the sewing machine so the only workaround we found was masking tape and parchment paper. Truly was a two person job to make this piece a reality.”
Corporate Ladder Department
Kiernan: Inspired by the 2024 color of the year, apricot crush, this head to toe uniform is a commentary on the idea of feeling confined or trapped by titles, roles and work culture ideologies. We designed this outfit to not only comment but also reflect on what the corporate ladder is and what it shouldn’t be. To us the corporate ladder should ensure equality, avoid rigidity, value talent and drive over seniority, prevent burnout, promote inclusivity, and remain open to the insights of younger generations for fresh perspective. What it shouldn’t be is discriminatory, inflexible, a source of burnout, or a barrier to collaboration.
Reflecting on the Corpcore project as a whole, it reminds us of the importance of listening to your own feelings, inspirations, and to question how you view things.
Collaborators
Hannah Yesmunt, Designer/CD
Kiernan McKay, Designer/CD
Kathy Price, MUAH
Molly McKay & Sarah Beckett, Production Assists
Talent
@somdbho @allickspurrez @bertfromirie @christastudent @meleisurelybusy @arabellavanderzee & Jamie of @endlessmgmt & Kathleen E.