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it grows by forgetting
The death of someone close to me from an illness I knew nothing about led me to reflect on the seemingly respectful yet naive way my family approached illness. This experience exposed society‘s pressure to suppress suffering, often reducing it to a taboo. But what if sickness could be seen as a powerful moment to reflect, reveal, and challenge a society that prioritizes productivity over personal needs? Shouldn’t we listen when the body expresses what words cannot?
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Nature communicates in ways we often overlook. Plants, fungi, and insects share subtle signals to grow, protect themselves, and survive, demonstrating quiet resilience. Rotting flora, often seen as something to discard, is a natural part of life. It reminds us that fragility and illness are not failures, but part of growth. By challenging these social constructs, we can create a space where health and illness are valued equally. Shaped by nature’s cycles and my experience working alongside my father as a gardener, I believe humans, like plants, deserve to be seen in their full diversity, including fragility.
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In my designs, I blend the natural world and personal experience to reflect vulnerability and strength. Each look represents a different state or condition, grounded in the environment or human existence, often combining both. For example, the gardener look, while human, is deeply rooted in the earth, reflecting our cyclical relationship with nature. Some pieces, like the workwear pants—a collaboration with my father blending his practicality with my aesthetic vision—incorporate zippers to enhance freedom of movement. Can illness, often seen as a barrier, become the engine of change, driving us toward resilience and healing?
Look Photo: @salvatoredefilippophotography
Creative Direction: @bylauragauch
Performance Teaser: @anilsarikaya @bylauragauch