Grace Hughson

Just Try It, You'll Like It

While I have had ARFID since I was 2, I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 15. For the majority of my childhood, my eating habits were misunderstood as picky eating. I was told that I should be able to eat my food but that I was making a choice to refuse it.
One of the most common misconceptions about ARFID is that it is simply picky eating. Picky eating is when a child can eat something but chooses not to, in favour of something else more desirable or in order to get attention. Unlike picky eating, ARFID is not a choice.
This collection is designed as a conceptual communication of my experience living with ARFID. Each of the garments has had restrictive elements incorporated into their design to limit and challenge the way that the wearer is able to use them.
Photographer: Devya Parshotam Models (Right to Left): Caitlin Laurie, Chelsea Porter, Zewei Li, Biance Villarante, Haley Salz MUA: Erika Gesmundo

Bachelor of Design with Honours

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that results from an intense fear of eating foods that are viewed as unsafe by the subconscious. It affects as many as 1 in 20 children.
I have had ARFID since I was 2 years old. As a result, I do not eat any meat, fruits, or vegetables.
This collection is the manifestation of my daily life living with this disorder.
Block 12 Level D