RYAN WATT
creative bio
Ryan Watt is a fashion designer based on the Gold Coast, Australia. A creative from an early age, his work draws from diverse influences spanning fine art and philosophy. By weaving together these inspirations, Ryan creates a cohesive design narrative that explores harmony within fragmentation. A key part of his design philosophy is using fabrics, shapes, textures and silhouettes with fragmented design elements, and experimenting to create harmony in his designs to evoke balance amid complexity. The thoughtful use of Merino wool and its unique properties is a recurring theme throughout his collection. Ryan was awarded the AWET Grant after being recognised by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) for his innovative applications of the material.
design statement
Desiring Machines features both menswear and womenswear designs, unified by a shared exploration of texture, silhouette and conceptual depth. Reworking the ideas from French philosopher Gilles Deleuze, whose vision of reality as an ever shifting network of connections is a key idea expressed with Ryan’s designs. His work explores the tension between chaos and cohesion, where sensation, expression and desire merge. Drawing inspiration from Richard Lindner’s 1+1=2 and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Nets, his collection looks at layers of asymmetrical patchwork, textured fabrics and contrasting patterns. The palette of soft browns and deep navy grounds the dissonance, creating harmony in fragmentation — a reflection of beauty found in interconnectedness and the unexpected unity of opposing forms.
