Xanthe Pölk

Body of Steel

How can clothing reshape the body, and what does fashion look like beyond traditional beauty standards? This is a question that follows Xanthe Pölk throughout her designs. As she explores the transformative power of fashion on the body, Pölk investigates how garments can distort the human form and what possibilities emerge when it is liberated from societal norms.

‘Body of Steel’ explores body dysmorphia, a mental illness that causes a distorted perception of one’s body. Inspired by the 1980s era of fitness culture and the “perfect” body, the collection focuses on how this obsession has intensified over time. Exaggerated silhouettes, grotesque forms, and unsettling textures visualise the physical and mental consequences of chasing unattainable beauty ideals, emphasising that body dysmorphia cannot be solved by changing the body, but requires mental healing.