Joza

This collection is influenced by the Japanese Samurai; military officers who strived to protect their land by leading a lifestyle which represented honour and nobility. The title of the collection means honesty, being true to yourself and your own actions. In samurai terms, warriors would complete their task fully with honour and honesty, they don’t need to ‘promise’ as speaking and doing are the same action. These traits reflect the collection’s approach toward sustainable fashion, one which honours the planet and its’ people by utilising natural materials and techniques, embracing the beauty of traditional craft. The hidden message ‘Cherish me’ acts as heirloom not only for the handicraft details in the collection but the way in which we should treat our clothes. This collection specifically focuses on the armour of the samurai; flexible and multi-layered garments made from enticing woven fabrics like waffle and herringbone are combined with sashiko embroidery techniques, creating exuberant patterns and textures throughout the collection. The heavy hemp fabrics work as protectors for the light fabrics underneath, connecting the collection to the shield of the samurai. As armour traditionally is weighty and dense, the use of bright canary yellows and deep indigo blues, combined with sky blues and mellow shades of pinks, soften the look of the collection, going against the grain of how armour is commonly perceived. The lining for the majority of the garments is indigo dyed, as the Japanese discovered the dye has healing capabilities. The efficient zero-waste pattern cutting technique, comprising of rectangular, square and triangle patterns, stem from traditional Japanese kimonos and samurai armours. Colours play a pivotal role throughout the collection, as they reflect personal feelings towards sustainability, feelings of brightness opposing the darkness of fast-fashion. Natural hand-dyeing processes utilised throughout the collection, and the exquisite range of vivid colours achieved as a result, prove natural dyes can, and will forever be, an integral part of the fashion industry.