RED STRING: ISSUE 2

RED STRING ISSUE 2: WHO ARE YOU WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

The Theme WHAT DOES “WHO ARE YOU WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING MEAN”?

“Who are you when no one is watching?” is a way for people to ask, 'Who are you really?' We often put on a front to disguise the unfiltered version of ourselves, aiming to appear presentable in front of others. Red String’s second issue explores atypical things because we often conceal our individuality; the parts of our identity are unusual despite being a representation of who we are.

Individuality isn’t always abnormal and unique; however, we must strive to feel empowered in ourselves and not lose who we truly are and the things we enjoy doing just to conform to conventional

e e Th r w o t a re ve r s ions w ith i n standards.

the lights are dim my muscles let out a sigh of relief the aching is gone my guard is gone you are gone a voice asks who are you when nobody is watching? i respond I am just me nobody is there nobody is watching but I wish you were the nobody submitted by Anonymous

celestial messages vs. the common insomniac by @cheymorgan.writes

The German parliament has decriminalized cannabis in Germany to set an example that European societies will not collapse because of the legalization of weed A disadvantage can be seen in the rising social acceptance of drugs - especially among adolescents.

However, the consumption is still associated with particular risks, especially in combination with nicotine.

Owning to the fact that it is now legal, parents worry about their children since they are more susceptible to the harmful health effects of cannabis. Furthermore, critics doubt that the legalization will weaken the black market due to dealers who would do everything they could to ensure that their goods remain attractive. Lastly, the consumption of cannabis and other intoxicants impairs the ability to drive. This increases the risk of accidents. Legalization can therefore endanger general road safety. To put it in a nutshell, this is a hotly debated topic that often divides opinion here in Germany. Even though many people are excited about this new regulation, more and more concerns are being raised.

However, one can definitely say that both opinions are justified and are also relevant in order to continue viewing the measure critically. Now that the law has been passed, it is basically no longer reversible.

So what will happen in the future and how the situation is going to develop isn’t exactly clear to any of us.

Germans smoking in front of Bradenburg Gate on April 1st, 2024

FLOWER POWER Written by Mira Lemstrom

For Valeria Rosich, art and nature cannot be separated, but this wasn’t always the case. The Venezuelan artist runs the botanical jewelry brand Flores de Miel, or Honey Flowers. After immigrating from Caracas in 2016, Rosich found grounding by working at Swallowtail Farm in Alachua.

She was very overwhelmed with the move, and getting a fellowship at Swallowtail helped her reconnect with nature — “spending everyday there for 8 months helped me come back to an inspired state --

everything was just so beautiful there.”

She was amazed with the quantity of flowers they were growing, and began to press them for further enjoyment through the seasons. Rosich says that the moment art and nature clicked together for her was in meeting local artist Kaitlyn of Moon Kat Mama, a business founded in 2015 that specializes in preserved butterfly wing earrings. Rosich explains that she’s always enjoyed crafts and nature, but in separate spheres. Moon Kat Mama’s was the catalyst Rosich needed to connect these elements at last.

Rosich experimented with different ways of pressing flowers and eventually came up with one that best suited the jewelry making process. She appreciates all forms of art but chose jewelry because she wanted to make it wearable; she loves “people having that beauty close to them because I had to like really like almost pause my life…to be able to receive that inspiration.” Wearable and natural art is Rosich’s way of providing that inspiration to people at a lower cost than uprooting their lives.

In terms of her own inspiration, Rosich draws from the flowers themselves but also the shifting of the seasons. Her collections follow the ancient Celtic wheel of the year. According to her website, Rosich’s collections “are focused on the times in between the solstices and equinoxes, to honor art and life as a process.” She knows that there is a right time for everything — life, death, and everything that comes with it — and seeks to honor these elements by celebrating periods of change.

Celtic wheel of the year on Flores de Miel’s website

She sees herself in natural changes such as the intermediary time between seasons. “Nature embraces all the forms of life and that's where the rhythms have really come into play.”

Rosich’s identity and experience with immigration also have played a major part in the founding of the brand; “nature is a beautiful way to look at immigration.” Upon moving to Gainesville in 2016, she first found herself feeling at home while spending long hours in nature alone. She hopes her jewelry can bring this sense closer to people and help them express their identities.

As a slow-fashion maker, Rosich has complicated feelings surrounding the inverse institution that is fast fashion.

Rosich describes fast fashion as “exploitation from the earth and the people,” and values slow fashion to support a better quality of life for artists.

She also stresses that fast fashion feels disconnected, while slow is an amazing opportunity for community building. She contrasts the industrial feeling that cheap online purchases give with the direct connection of buying local or from a maker whose intentions are made clear. This connection is integral to Rosich’s consumption: “If you get it from your local community you don't only get the benefit of the item…but also the connection with the person that is a part of your community.” After immigrating and living through the pandemic, a good community is something she holds very close to her heart.

Rosich doesn’t just buy sustainably for herself, but for her brand as well: she much prefers local shops like The Repurpose Project to source her metal. It brings her comfort knowing not just that the material is cost effective and durable, but she knows the intentions of the vendor, which is not guaranteed with big box craft stores. She also makes use of The Repurpose Project’s array of trash, upcycling it into jewelry where it is contrasted with floral vulnerability, providing visual balance.

Bio-yarn made out of algae by @_aliciavaldes_ on TikTok

Another sustainable practice incorporated into Flores De Miel is Rosich’s use of natural dye. Her Lughnasa collection includes upcycled clothes with cyanotype patterns..

When asked about making at home biomaterials such as alginate yarn (popularized by @AV on TikTok), Rosich says that she is very intrigued by them but doesn't consider herself much of a scientist.

However, she keeps up with the research surrounding new materials.

As aforementioned, Rosich is all about community, and would love to collaborate with someone working on biomaterials.

Rosich states that collaboration is “one of [my] bigger missions that's becoming alive and present…is like the mindset of leaving behind radical competition to like actually learn to help each other.”

i found my style

in nature

by Red String x clothes from @flores.de.miel

no frame in make up

by Red String

Never dull your shine!

Makeup serves as a medium for self-expression and an outlet for creativity. Feel empowered to embrace your true self and discover life's endless possibilities. Red String introduces vibrant colors and playful makeup looks to encourage experimentation, reminiscent of the days when you raided your parents' jewelry and makeup stash, or when you invented games at the playground, fueled by pure enthusiasm.

It's about recapturing that childlike sense of fearlessness in letting down your guard. Therefore, we use makeup to represent the moments of true color when you aren’t pressured by the pace and gaze of others.

“AN EIGHTIES ROCK STAR” PHOTOGRAPHED BY @FAITHSPHOTOALBUM MODELED BY @EMKENNEDYROCKS

Candid

Always In Motion The beauty of the simplistic nature of a day in a life.

It is what attracts us to personal content.

Candid photography

by Annelie Tyrolt to show raw shots of Europe which unlock unfiltered expressions

Alana Watts Annelie Tyrolt Mira Lemstrom

s r o t u b r

Jiselle Natividad Emily Liu

i

t C on

Owen Duffy-Massey Lindsey Gu

Beatriz Engles

Editor in chief: Isabelle Son Head art editor: Cecilia Duda