Featuring Selena Tribute Artist,
Amanda Solis
Fabricating an Icon:
A Tribute to Selena
When contemporary performers pay homage to Selena today via costume recreations, the fabrics are often the least historically accurate because they are no longer manufactured. There is a gap between the historical material specificity and the creation of exact costume replicas.
This thesis is about how homage can be enacted through material and technical practice, with textile recreation as the primary site of inquiry.
I consulted with Martin Gomez, exclusive fashion and costume designer for Selena, to learn about the design inspiration, original context and technical details of the original costumes he designed for the late Tejano superstar. I collaborated with Selena Tribute Artist and Tejano musician, Amanda Solis, to breathe life into the costumes and continue to contribute to Selena’s legacy and preserve history for future generations.
Matthew Smith
Transformative Technologies Explored Through the Recreation of Selena Quintanilla Perez’s Costumes
Tambour Beading
The “Flamenco” Costume
My primary focus of research for this case study was Tambour Beading. I tambour beaded fourteen “leaf” appliqués with silver-lined bugle beads.
Silk Velvet Devoré
The Green Tail Suit Costume
My primary focus of research for this case study was Silk Velvet Devore. I combined digital and analog workflow process: vector design in Adobe Illustrator, vinyl cutting in Silhouette Cutting Machine, and Silk Screen application.
Glitter Dot Embelishment
Purple Disco Jumpsuit
My primary focus of research for this case study was Glitter Dot Embellishment. I applied every glitter dot cluster by hand, simultaneously testing how adhesive glue could function on stretch fabric.
