My latest graduate collection that draws inspiration from a fictional visual world. This imaginative venture was sparked by the enchanting memories of last summer, when my boyfriend and Iembarked on our honeymoon in Europe, where the habit of "Sending love" became a cherished ritual.
The collection weaves together the imagery of Cupid with toy elements derived from my second-year collection, crafting a unique toy world that encapsulates the essence of playfulness. The Dutch term "Speelgoed," translating to "toys" in English, also conveys the delightful notion of "play good," leaving a lasting impression on the entire collection.
Drawing from the post-surrealism era, my visual inspirations include the avant-garde CoBrA art movement hailing from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Their painting style, marked by strong expres- sionism, freedom, and experimentation, mirrors the artistic impulse of a child's intuition. Echoing the sentiments of Karel Appel, one of the movement's founding members, "We wanted to start again like a child," became my guiding principle throughout the creative process to stay true to nature, explore, and embrace a sense of relaxation.
The garment cuts find inspiration in the Roman costumes depicted in Cupid's paintings, coupled with the classic one-piece fabric style associated with Cupid. The concept of one-piece cutting served as an experimental catalyst for the entire pattern-making process, with many designs originating from draping experiments on toys.
That's my world. When fashion meets fantasy, every piece tells a story of love, playfulness, and creative liberation.
