DISTANT SOUNDS is inspired by sleigh bells, their sound, and also by my grandmother’s stories about the horses kept at the farmhouse that is located in North-East Estonia, where she grew up.
Sleigh bells are significant in my collection because of their shape and ringing sounds. Did you know that s
leigh bells sound louder from afar than close? Nevertheless the sound of bells is a signal that informs you of a horse’s arrival and usually also of them leaving. But sometimes they leave for good. So, what happens to that sound after the lives of horses end? It could be something that safely sends their souls to their last journey and also helps to find each other in the unknown so that no one is left alone. Sleigh bells' round shape on the other hand is a sign of a secure protective capsule.
I imitated sleigh bells' metal surface with a wire crochet technique, which creates a more airy version of the heavy sphere.
Another source of inspiration was the stories about horses kept at the farmhouse my grandmother grew up in. As I examined these narratives I started creating elements that are related to the collection. For example, a horse named Janne, who was hard-working, was buried in an apple orchard and that’s why I used apple tree bark when dyeing the fabric, which created a beautiful and delicate shade of yellow. Another significant fact is about the wire. I wanted to experience the back-breaking work of horses by time-consuming crocheting. Later on, I burnt the wire, which revealed different metallic colors. It is a reminder of the eventful and exciting history of my grandmother’s childhood home and fragments of memories.
With this collection, I want to keep alive one of my grandmother's childhood memories of animals, that were like family. With pictures from the past, that will still echo in the distant future.
June 11, 2022
Knitwear, Textiles, Womenswear, Embellishment, Ethical Fashion Initiative, Women's, Pattern cutting
Embroidery, Crochet, Natural dye
Leather, Wood, Wool, Raw silk, Bare copper wire