Can‘t see the wood for the trees is about the forest I used to go to as a child and the forest that I went to during lockdown. It is about reclaiming a child-like approach to nature. Looking at the different textures a forest provides, I tried recreating them and made new materials from what I could find in my neighbourhood. Looking at pictures from childhood and the clothing we were wearing to the forest I tried to frame the natural elements of my collection through the graphic elements of those outdoor clothes.
This is also a project about reconnection to nature, in the sense that the wearer will partially blend into the forest. Using materials like bark, leaves, needles and soil the wearer merges into their natural surroundings. In order to make these natural materials functional and wearable I experimented with glycerin baths, waxing and different types of treating the materials to make them durable as well as weather proof.

The project can also be seen as a rather tranquil/therapeutic approach to making clothes defying the conditions under which fashion normally operates. I cycled from Germany to London right before my final year started and noticed the strong relaxing effect cycling through nature had on me; by working directly with and in nature I tried to bring that tranquility into my final year.

In order to also create the same effect for the wearer the clothes are meant to be worn outside, encouraging the wearer to spent time outdoors. Furthermore, I collaborated with a herbalist to develop natural dyes for the lining that besides from the visual effect also have a soothing/healing effect on the skin (inspired by the Ayurvastra dyeing technique).