Different Twins. Creation of a Fashion Collection Based on the Study of the Phenomenon of Duality in Contemporary Art and Visual Culture

The starting point for studying the phenomenon of "duality" is fixed at the "Mirror Stage" according to Jacques Lacan. Mirrors demonstrate the relationship of a person with his reflection, with his "double": the "double" appears in the mirror, it is also captured in photographs and portraits. In a mirror that has the ability to reflect, a person sees the face of another person, his "double", although he meets himself. Moreover, the mirror participates in the process of psychoanalysis, helping to orient the body in space and to recognize oneself in reflection. A person, facing his own reflection, reveals himself as a person, and at the same time he first encounters his so-called "double". This study investigated the influence of the image and metaphor of the mirror, its duality, which has not yet been fully explored. Almost everything in the world has a "dual" nature. Mirror reflection only helps in comprehending this "duality", self-identification of a person, because reflection gives a mirror similarity. In particular, the problem of self-identification and comparison with a twin brother or sister, who is a literal "double", is often faced by twins. In childhood they often mirror each other's speech, facial expressions and gestures. The study is necessary to identify artistic techniques that help to show specularity and reflection symmetry as particular manifestations of "duality" and to develop individual author's methods that are applicable to clothing design and based on the studied material. The results of two parts of the study of "duality" have been combined and a new concept of a fashion collection in collaboration with a twin sister has been created. Content analysis, observation method, as well as inductive thinking, were found to be necessary to investigate the phenomenon of "mirror duality" and reflect it in the collection of clothing dedicated to "duality". The preparation of a fashion collection and lookbook shooting are expected, as well as the promotion of the collection in social networks and commerce. The study of the phenomenon of "mirroring" and "duality" is a capacious source of inspiration for fashion designers that provides a variety of creative solutions, original methods and techniques for working with clothes.