Abstract Depleted Terrain
Category: Apparel
Competitions: International
"Abstract Depleted Terrain" is my graduation project, composed of a collection of five womenswear outfits developed as part of my studies at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, in the Department of Fashion Design. The project explores the complex relationships between nature and industry, beauty and destruction, using landscapes as a visual platform for emotion and critique. The inspiration emerged from the works of artist Edward Burtynsky, whose photography documents processes of mining, extraction, and the erosion of natural resources. His aerial images reveal scarred terrains and visuals that resemble abstract paintings – beautiful and violent at the same time. Through documenting environmental harm, they raise pressing questions about the cost of progress and humanity’s responsibility toward the world it inhabits. The collection also draws on the sculptural work of Richard Serra – massive, rusted steel structures that embody the physical and emotional force of industry within human spaces. Their presence – uncomfortable, heavy, and charged – inspired the shapes, textures, and material choices of the garments. At the heart of the work was a desire to re-explore raw materials – among them, leather. As an animal-derived material, leather is deeply rooted in the tradition of fashion design, yet it also ignites critical discussions about ethics, sustainability, and resource use. In this project, real leather is used as part of a broader system of natural materials, chosen for its durability, quality, material potential, and a mindful approach to its use. The leather underwent handcraft treatments that merged its natural rawness with an industrial aesthetic, evoking a rust-like texture. The featured outfit addresses the theme of waste accumulation – compressed, valueless materials returned to nature. These are products that are repeatedly compacted into cubes to try cope with the endless volumes of waste we discard back into the environment. That same environment, already deeply harmed by relentless resource extraction, continues to suffer. The garment’s structure conveys weight, erosion, and ultimately compression – representing what will take years to disappear, a kind of "residue" discarded into the wounded landscape. The project aims to create thoughtful, high-quality fashion that remains connected to the world from which it emerges – offering a sense of luxury not through abundance, but through intent. A collection that confronts questions of ethics, aesthetics, responsibility, and mindful resource use – especially leather, an ancient yet vital material that offers a path toward renewed connection between humans, material, and nature.