Supported by: V&A Museum, Swarovski , the Luxury Channel in U.K. Benefitting elephants, gorillas, lions and blue whales.……
In November 2016, The Animal Ball – a first of its kind event created by The Elephant Family to raise funds and awareness for animals facing extinction – invited fashion designers and fashion houses to create costumes and masks for the event to be worn by VIP guests. Rui was one of the designers chosen, who went on to create 21 of these wildly beautiful and delicate antelope masks, seen at the V&A.
The masks were displayed at the V&A Museum in the Cupola, a secret dome on top of the building which is not usually open to the public, as a prelude to Elephant Family’s fundraising Animal Ball. The Animal Ball – a key fashion, philanthropic and cultural moment – was attended by London society.
Rui’s Mask No. 21 “The Return of The King – David’s Deer” was displayed in the Cupola at V&A. The mask is made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene plastic, which can be easily manipulated to create complicated shapes. 3D printing additionally allows for the development of precise details. However, despite the modern-day materials and digital design procedures employed, Rui finds the creative process akin to ancient craftsmen of old carving artworks by hand. This appreciation for understated but authentic artisanship is very much the inspiration behind her whole collection. “Slow down, appreciate the world, touch the heart of animals,” Rui says. “Then human beings will have more happiness and dignity in life.”
Collected by Clarence House