SUSTAINABILITY and FUNCTION
The story behind this collection attracts me to due to its sustainability. The clothes I made are to be perceived as up-cycled couture, which combines the handmade aspect of couture with sustainable methods. Throughout the series, I collected a lot of small items related to picnics that I used in constructing the garments. They are all old items I found in my home such as small and low tables, tea cups, and wallets. They all had a life and have a history that new clothes don’t have. That aspect is really interesting and as a designer, I want the stories to continue on the body. The fabric is recycled from picnic tablecloths and old silk. The majority of the collection is hand-sewn and the jackets are custom made. These elements create a sense of value to the items. The uniqueness of each item is that it can be a piece of clothing, a piece of jewellery, or even a small sculpture. Most of the garments’ use is multipurpose, for ex- ample the orange reversible gingham skirt can change into a table- cloth and be used as such. Also, the same skirt can be spread onto the ground to make a picnic blanket. My main focus was to create a collection that highlights utilisation. Clothes offer more than one purpose besides wearability.