Photography by Melody Bilbo
Making has long been a sanctuary of practice for me. The activity of making is a compulsion, a joy, a function of escapism, and ultimately, a source of income.
The production of my first collection was my introduction to making garments I believed in with practices I support. Designed and constructed in a spare room in my Humboldt Park apartment, it was something I dreamed of for years, finally bringing tangibility to fruition with the help of a small team I could not have done without. I truly love my first collection, the memories it holds, and all it represents to me. But along with producing work come expectations. Where to shoot, how to publicize, and most urgently, how do you produce the next collection are all questions I struggled with, reinforced by the traditional notions of the fashion system, with its endless seasons and childlike need for constant approval. Somewhere between producing and delivering my collection, the joy of making was lost.
After a year of introspection and investigation, I can happily announce two new bodies of work. Clothes - why we make them, why we love them, why we wear them, why we choose them - are the questions that initially began my new line of thinking behind creating garments that are personal to me. I am interested in traditional techniques, one-of-a-kind textiles, and handmade practices. The incorporation of these processes which make creating a rich, rewarding and joyful experience for me are essential in creating clothing that I care about, and sincerely believe the feeling will be transpired to those who wear it.
Approaching fashion design as an artist, I’m trying to shrug off the encumbrances of cycles and seasons and instead embrace a timeline that makes sense to my processes and allows for the freedom of exploration and discovery into what makes me happy. As I engage with textiles, materials, research, and all methods of making, I hope to incorporate writing and critical thought into why I am driven to make the work I choose to. It is my sincere wish for you follow along and enjoy the process and the garments alongside me.