NATURE BOX
When I was a child, I kept a “nature box”; an old shoe-box filled with items I had found in the woods behind my home. I had tucked it away in the attic, forgotten, only to stumble upon it years later and discover that the contents had all but disappeared. This memory for me allegorized the passage of time and the inevitability of death. It’s easy to view these aspects of life negatively, but this collection aims to express the beauty in the unchangeable elements of life and the importance of letting go.
It is based on the idea that one can collect and categorize pieces of the natural world, but we can never control it; the very act of trying to control nature fundamentally changes it.
I researched the symbolism of many of the objects I had collected as well as the philosophies of Taoism and Stoicism. I also explored the haziness of memories and the often lonely process of forgetting that characterizes the passage of time.
I explore these concepts through both silhouette and technique, specifically with a large variety of textile manipulations and placement prints. These are used in the spirit of collection and exploration, as well as to mimic natural botanical textures. Building on that, I made use of natural fibers and traditional tailoring materials.
Throughout the collection, I juxtapose organic shapes and deconstructionism with tailored garments and detailing, a representation of the contrast between the found items and the box itself. I also focused on hand construction and traditional tailoring methods as it is crucial to my personal design philosophy and additionally serves as commentary on passing time and the sustainability and endurance of quality craftsmanship and tradition.