Ode To The Traces of Life

by Hanakin Henriksson(SE), fashion

This collection is a protest against newness as a definition of beauty. Instead it puts the focus on character and signs of life of the materials, in order to raise our appreciation for the life and history of these and other garments. Everything with a past has a story, a rich history which invites us to enter it and thicken our lives with memory and associations. Too often we define the new and untouched as the epitome of beauty. If we learn to see the cumulative effects of history and life in our selves and our possessions as beautiful and valuable, it will expand this appreciation for life and let us touch the vast expanse of history.

The fabrics are mostly sources from my home province in the south of Sweden, linens, sheets, tablecloths or other fabrics I’ve collected over the years, or fabrics that have been given to me by friends and relatives. The yellow dress and beige jackets are hand dyed from natural pigments that you might have around the house like spices, vegetables and wine. The diamond stamp pattern is made from leftover paints from drawing class. The smocking is done by hand.

The garments are made to be wearable, based on early 20th century work/leisure wear, many of them able to be worn by bodies of varying size and shape without the garments needing to be altered for size. The provenance of the fabric is written inside of the garments, giving the wearer an experience of uniqueness and imagination. Above that I have implemented some features from my own favorite pieces of clothing, like pockets, construction and finishings that I as a wearer especially appreciate.

This is an introspective collection, focusing on the wearer and their interaction with the garments. They represent a luxury of the soul, aiming to increase a sense of quotidian pleasure through the beauty of their history; a fading print, incarnate memories, proof of experience, smells from the past, textures reminding of the earth.

The Film

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Accessoires

Overview

HERITAGE : Our idea of beauty and comfort is rooted in our past experiences, so to care for your inherited items and carrying traditions forward is to find pleasure in what’s part of you.

COLLECTING/HOARDING : I am a hoarder when in comes to old sheets, lace works and linens so this will always be part of my experience of beauty, to handle them is something that gives me great pleasure.

This collection is a protest against newness as a definition of beauty

PRIDE IN HANDCRAFT : What can your hands do? They are quite beautiful on their own and there is an irregularity in what they produce - identical copies are impossible. Nowadays we tend to be limited in what movements our hands make (we work through the keyboard or the phone) but to reconnect our bodies to our work is physical therapy.

WORN, UTILITARIAN CLOTHES FROM THE PAST : The simplicity of the garments and the harmonious cooperation between body and clothing makes these garments come alive in a spectacular way.

The provenance of the collected fabrics is written inside the garments, giving the wearer an experience of uniqueness and imagination

HANDWORK : Seeing the traces of someones hand creates an awareness of the time and labour needed to create something of value.

MENDING AS MEDITATION : Finding meaning in repetition and skill as tools for mental balance, a chance to think in silence. Repairing on the outside is repairing on the inside.