Red Bull X DUCFS

By Katie Trahair-Davies

In an exciting behind-the-dress exclusive, THREAD speaks to VANESSA OBASOGIE, the designer behind Red Bull and DUCFS’ collaboration premiering during the 2026 show week.  She reflects on the creative vision and inspiration behind the piece, blurring the lines between fashion and branding, as well as the importance of collaboration and community within fashion design. 

This DUCFS, Red Bull really does give you wiiiings. 

THREAD: Firstly, tell us about the process of making the dress!

VANESSA: The project began when Ellie reached out to me with an initial idea she had developed back in July, at the very start of her role. With her background in fashion buying from her placement year at Primark HQ and her work as Red Bull Student Marketeer for Durham University, she wanted to explore how a brand could show up within the show in a way that felt meaningful, creative, and genuinely part of the fashion conversation.

From the outset, the aim was to take something instantly recognisable and transform it into something unexpected. What began as a simple concept gradually evolved into a fully realised piece, shaped through experimentation, collaboration, and continual refinement. The first three words that came to mind were playful, sculptural, and bold. We wanted the dress to feel youthful and energetic, reflecting the brand’s spirit, while still maintaining strong sculptural qualities.

Surprisingly, working with metal wasn’t as difficult as I initially imagined. The biggest challenge lay in its fragility and rigidity when bending it around the body. The creation of the wings was particularly demanding, requiring a careful understanding of weight distribution and balance on the shoulders. It was a process that demanded patience and problem-solving, but ultimately became the most rewarding part of the build.

Over time, the more I experimented, the more familiar the material felt. By the end, the metal no longer felt restrictive but expressive, allowing the final piece to feel confident and intentional.

Texture has always been central to my design practice, and for this piece, pleating became a key focus, alongside embossing and engraving the cans. Both techniques were completely new to me, but they allowed subtle detailing that elevated the garment and gave it a refined finish.

THREAD: What was the collaborative process with Red Bull like? How did you manage to combine visions and backgrounds?

VANESSA: Collaboration was fundamental to the creation and realisation of this project. From working closely with Ellie to collaborating with my design assistants, Ellia and Bridget, and drawing support from friends throughout the process, the piece was shaped by a strong sense of community. That collective effort ultimately pushed the project further than I initially expected.

Influenced by my Spanish background and the Spanish hand fan, I was drawn to pleating as a central design language, particularly the way fans balance structure with fluidity. With a background in Fashion Design and Marketing from Northumbria University, my creative approach naturally balances concept development, material experimentation, and brand storytelling. Translating Red Bull’s core values; energy, movement, and boldness, into a physical form felt instinctive.

My personal vision has evolved to place collaboration at the heart of my practice. While I initially approached design in a more independent way, I’ve come to value how working alongside others strengthens both the idea and the outcome. Design, to me, is a shared conversation between the wearer, the materials, and a story that extends beyond a single perspective.

THREAD: What was the creative inspiration behind the dress?

VANESSA: The creative inspiration for the dress centres on transformation; taking something familiar and reworking it into something sculptural, expressive, and powerful. The brand’s identity, rooted in energy, movement, and pushing boundaries, naturally informed the form and construction of the piece.

There was a conscious intention to blur the lines between brand and fashion, creating something that felt entirely at home on the runway rather than sitting alongside it. The metallic texture, structured form, and sense of motion reflect both the boldness of the brand and the experimental spirit of student fashion.

THREAD: From your perspective, what does the ultimately dress stand for?  

VANESSA: From a fashion perspective, the dress challenges expectations, questioning what materials belong on a runway and how far creativity can be pushed when traditional rules are set aside. It demonstrates that innovation and craftsmanship can emerge from the most unexpected materials.

In a broader sense, the piece represents collaboration, creativity, and belief in student ideas. It brings together two worlds; Ellie’s experience in fashion buying and her work in brand marketing, merging naturally into one shared space where fashion and brand speak the same language.

Ultimately, the dress stands for possibility: how a small idea, shared with the right people, can grow into something expressive, powerful, and unforgettable.

AUGUSTUS JACKSON, Vice President (Creative) of DUCFS 2026, added: "This piece was made possible by the exceptional commitment of Ellie Dornan and the Red Bull team, alongside the design team’s creativity and dedication in realising such an ambitious concept. Speaking on behalf of Gigi, our wonderful model for this creation, and the wider DUCFS creative team, we are immensely proud to bring this partnership onto the runway for 2026. It represents a key step in DUCFS’ development as a commercial platform, integrating Red Bull’s branding in a way that remains distinctly DUCFS, through fashion and experimentation.”

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Red Bull’s relationship with DUCFS has consistently centred on supporting creativity and student-led expression. This year, that support felt more embedded than ever, moving beyond traditional presence and into meaningful involvement within the wider show experience.

By being part of the environment surrounding the show and celebrating alongside creatives and students throughout the evening, the partnership reflects a shared belief in championing individuality, ambition, and original ideas. Looking ahead, it represents the potential for even deeper collaboration, where fashion, brand, and student creativity continue to intersect in new and exciting ways.

Image Credit: Red Bull and Vanessa Obasogie