Project Title: Aricula Judae
Year: 2011-2012
Aricula Judae is a senior collection inspired by the feeling of comfort and protection found in nature. The collection's name comes from a mushroom I found while hiking on my grandparents' property, a place that represents a profound sense of peace from my childhood. I wanted to capture the feeling of being in those beautiful woods and carry that sense of warmth and security into a new phase of my life.
The garments are a study in duality: soft, gathered knitwear and textiles are protected by structured, streamlined leather components. This contrast symbolizes the tension between vulnerability and strength—the softness of nature and the resilience required for survival. The color palette, drawn from my own photographs, features deep blues, earthy greens, and the warm hues of a sunset.
The technical execution of this collection was central to its concept. I hand-gathered the knitwear to emulate the organic texture of wood grain. The underlayer garments feature digital prints I developed from my own photography, using color analysis and manipulation in Photoshop to achieve the exact hues from nature. The collection also includes several pieces that were hand-dyed to create an ombre effect, mirroring the seamless color gradients you find in a field of grass or in a sunset. Ultimately, this collection is a wearable embrace, designed to bring a sense of comfort, protection, and peace to the wearer.
Illustration 3.0