Force of Nature

Category: Apparel

Spending my formative years living in the countryside has developed my fascination in the natural world and appreciation for it. I am constantly discovering different objects in the countryside that I find interesting and inspiring. I think that being surrounded by nature has had a subconscious impact on me, and therefore it is the main source of inspiration for my collection. I have specifically used these natural objects, such as bones that I have collected to inform my design work because I am drawn to their forms, structures, and symmetry. My print is taken from my investigation into the Chladni figures, which I have made into a repeat pattern to be used on the surface of the garment. I wanted to make a garment from a material that was malleable but also robust enough to keep the shapes firm at edges. I didn’t want to use any synthetic leather because it is not sustainable, or durable and ultimately degrades into microplastics. As leather is a by-product from the meat industry and a natural material it is more sustainable than pleather. So I decided to use leather as it met my criteria for being versatile, hard wearing, comes in lots of thicknesses, surface textures and colour ways. I have chosen to use orange cow hide for this top.