The Soul & other human experiences
Category: Apparel
Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025
In a world marked by growing tension and conflict, I created this shawl as a quiet act of resistance—an offering of comfort, beauty, and connection. It is a reminder of our shared humanity and our vital relationship with the natural world. Designed as a piece to wrap oneself in during moments of vulnerability, the shawl is both functional and symbolic. It represents our innate need for comfort—a deeply human instinct that unites us, especially in uncertain times. I believe there is strength in softness, and this belief guided every step of my creative process. The fabric design is rooted in my personal connection to the landscape that surrounds my home. Using oil pastels, I sketched rolling hills, wild fields, beaches, and the ever-changing sea. These drawings became the visual foundation of the piece. To translate them into textile form, I turned to natural dyes—Tansy, Indigo, Madder, and Cochineal—honouring age-old practices that respect the earth. I dyed deadstock Merino wool and cashmere by hand, combining the tactility of luxurious fibres with the subtlety of botanical hues. The shawl was woven manually on a floor loom using a 16-shaft waffle weave pattern, chosen for its warmth, texture, and dimensionality. The final piece is a 3-metre wrap that embodies both emotional and physical comfort, designed with circularity and intention at its core. This work is my response to the Only Natural mission: to restore balance by putting nature first. It challenges the disposability of fast fashion by embracing longevity, heritage craft, and the intrinsic beauty of natural materials. Through this shawl, I hope to inspire a deeper reverence for the environment—and a gentler, more grounded way of being.
