Gauntlet of Dreams

Drifting off to a land of dreams and nightmares. The sun is setting, the horizon grows a vibrant pink, and you must prepare. A quilt shields you in your sleep, and inside your nightmares, it becomes armor.

For years I’ve had nightmares, of drowning or being chased, skeletal haunting figures standing over me, to the point I would sleep only when I had to. I would stay up until the early morning hours. In order to stop hiding from them I began writing them down. This record helped me face them, and the more I wrote the less often the figures found me in my dreams.

A vibrant glowing pink sunset, a promise of the nightmares to come. Prepare to face the threat of the oncoming darkness: adorn yourself with the blue of daylight and the work of loving hands.

A collection designed around haunting dreams, first only in the mind, but now made real in more ways than one. I designed these garments in CLO3D and then made them a reality.  

Bodies change and morph throughout our lives, and clothing is what we wrap ourselves in every day to face the world. Instead of making our bodies fit the clothing, it should fit us wherever we are. In order to make sure garments are kept and loved as long as possible, adjustability is an important factor.

The quilted jacket is made entirely from reclaimed textiles set to be thrown away. I gathered scraps from classmates, friends, and leftovers from my own previous work to quilt into the jacket. Each torn piece comes together to make a powerful whole. The pink silk and other textiles were collected secondhand. To design is to make, and often, to make is to waste. Being conscious of my own waste as I create is a vital part of my design process. Use every scrap; waste not want not. Handwork is an expression of love, and in order to ensure that these painstakingly-made garments would have a long life, I made certain that they could be worn as long as possible. The blue hooded top and denim pants are completely adjustable and can fit sizes two through twelve. This large range of adjustability will keep them out of the trash, when other pieces that no longer fit might be cast off. 

I made many changes as I found my way through these garments. The gloves especially were a challenge. I swapped back and forth many times while deciding where the quilted jacket would look best, and I battled with myself over textiles and a color scheme. I wanted to design for fabric I already had in my possession, but still remain true to my concept.

Photographs: Savannah Bartlett and Cameryn McNeil 

Models: Keely Buch and Kayla Hollingsworth

Thank you so much!