Her Story

Matthew Okerayi
Fashion Design (School of Graduate Studies)

About this Item

Title
Her Story
Contributor Names
Okerayi, Matthew (Creator, Designer)
Hammel, Ben (Videographer, Editor)
Trotman, "Zay" Isaiah (Photographer)
Van Mballa, Arielle (Muse)
Date
2022
Description
2022 Fashion Design MFA graduate thesis collection created by Matthew Okerayi. Presented on June 8, 2022 at 'Unbound: Fashion Design MFA Showcase.'
M.F.A. Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York 2022.
Department: Fashion Design.
Artist's Statement
Matthew Okerayi's collection leverages fashion to express his personal interests for uniforms, art, culture, and politics in this collection. In embodying the delicate balance between political critique and history, his work takes risks. The back being one of the focal elements of each look because it is the body's greatest canvas. He also reflects on the strong women figures in his lifetime, striving to tell their story of their internalized efforts. Uniform, I believe, binds us; this is my counter-argument which is a privilege to be able to present.
Queens native, Matthew Okerayi uses art as an escape from authority. Growing up with traditional standards imposed on him, his designs allow him to escape conformity. Prior to studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of technology, he obtained his bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design at SUNY Cortland. Business owner of the brand DBO established in 2017. In addition he was honored as a 2021 CFDA Design for justice Finalist and the Mimaki 2021 innovation award. Matthews' work is a catalyst for what is not known.
Type
Moving Image
Runway collections
Fashion shows
Thesis
Subject
Fashion design
Fashion designers
Rights
In Copyright
The copyright for this work is held by its author/creator(s). Usage of this material beyond what is permitted by copyright law must first be cleared with the rights-holder(s). This work has been made available online by the Fashion Institute of Technology Gladys Marcus Library strictly for research and educational purposes. If you are the copyright holder for this work and have any objections to this work being made available online, please notify us immediately at [email protected].
Identifier
FIT Repository ID: fd_mfa_000006
Related Materials
Photo gallery
Unbound: Fashion Design MFA Showcase

Citation

Okerayi, M. (2022). Her Story [Master's thesis, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York]. FIT Institutional Repository. https://institutionalrepository.fitnyc.edu/item/7589
Okerayi, Matthew. Her Story. 2022. Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, Master's thesis. FIT Digital Repository, https://institutionalrepository.fitnyc.edu/item/7589
Okerayi, Matthew. "Her Story." Master's thesis, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, 2022. https://institutionalrepository.fitnyc.edu/item/7589