The Long Way Home A/W 26
The Long Way Home is a womenswear collection that centres around the idea that nature and fairytales can serve as a form of escapism for those with anxiety. This project aims to communicate one way in which people may cope with anxiety, and hopefully raise awareness of mental health by removing the stigma attached to it. Influenced by my own experiences and traditional fairytales, I have created and illustrated a fairytale that follows a young girl who ventures into a fictional world to escape from her own anxiety. The creatures she encounters guide her through the different landscapes and the string tied to her wrist allows her to return to reality. ‘The Long Way Home’ is a textiles-focused project, it incorporates various techniques that mirror the tranquility of nature and act as a tangible comfort for those struggling with their mental health.
Design Development
I developed my own draping technique to inform my designs, creating a makeshift curtain out of fabric and wrapping it around the body. The idea for this came from stage curtains, which suggest the existence of a ‘real self behind the ‘stage’ created by anxiety
Textile Development
The Lake
The Robin
Hide and Seek
The Garden
Back Home
Final Lineup
Sensory Boards
Created to serve as a hand-held and portable comfort, similar to fidget toys, my sensory boards are composed of all the most tactile and visually appealling elements of my final collection. These include fabric samples, slashing, embroidery, screen prints, and buttons.
