Our intentions with this collection were to explore our intersectional human struggles for freedom and equality. As a brand, we feel it important that our ethics embrace not only the ethics around manufacturing clothing products, but the ethics around our responsibilities as global citizens. And as such we turned to the essential text of writer and activist Angela Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle, to explore the intersectionality of our current and urgent movements for peace, ceasefire, freedom and equality.
When invited by Leila Judeh to register as a designer for the New York Fashion Week x Block the Noise production, a runway that she designed to raise awareness around mental health, social activism, and community within the context of New York Fashion Week – with ticket proceeds stated to support the Alnahhal Family Khan Younis Evacuation Fund and the NOKCreative school rebuild in Nigeria ~ please reach out to Block the Noise for how to donate further to each fund directly~ we saw this as a unique opportunity this U.S. election year to recontextualize what red, white, and blue could signify if grounded within the Earth. In a sea of Americana inspired collections this season, what would happen if we took the American flag (and all others of similar colors and insignia) and with love and accountability composted it into the Earth, deconstructed it, and created something healing and new. That is what we see Angela Davis’ text doing. And we followed suit.
The 8 look collection started off with plant based and deadstock fabrics that began as either black, red, white, or denim blue. We then grounded within our practice of textile art, altered the colors and fabrics, cuts, silhouettes entirely with plant based, low impact, and hand bleached dyes and methodologies. Part of the collection was constructed in Naarm (Melbourne) while the final parts of the collection hand dyed and constructed at the Textile Art Centre in Lenapehoking (Brooklyn, NY). The plant based dyes used were Indigo, Logwood (also known as “blood wood”) and Osage Orange, an important dye made from wood of the Osage tree, historically used by the Osage tribe in the Americas for creating bows. The earrings worn by all models were constructed with recycled computer parts, connecting to the intersectional struggles faced in the Congo at the hands of our technologies. All pieces were constructed with deadstock and reclaimed plant based natural fabrics as signature of our label.
Thank you Leila for the opportunity to showcase our collection home in this important year.
Thank you to our stunning models for connecting so thoughtfully to the ethos of the collection and embodying it so beautifully and powerfully.
1. Maria (@mariamendezm)
2. Bella (@heybellagray)
3. Kelsey (@kelsey10_)
4. Dominique (@domie_d_)
5. Rosemary (@odeszi)
6. Inna (@model_illion)
7. Jourdyn (@jourdynderise)
8. Azaria (@azariablaze)
Thank you to the incredible people we have met in our journey in the Americas – fellow designers, fashion enthusiasts, activists and humans who resonated with the work and with whom essential conversations are continuing.
Freedom is a constant struggle. Drop 1 is now online.
