Unbound

You can appear strong and confident on the outside while a lot is happening within. With Unbound, I explore the pressure to perform and the expectations we carry with us. These can help us grow, but they can also make us feel that we constantly need to be better or different. The name refers to breaking free from those expectations and finding the space to choose your own direction.

I translated this into a boxy top and skirt made from a reused black curtain. The sturdy fabric holds the straight shapes in place, representing a controlled exterior and the expectations someone tries to fit into. Grey rope forms a freer, organic layer over it. The lines refer to thoughts and feelings that intertwine. Rope can connect and support, but it can also bind and restrict.

I kept the colours restrained so the shapes and materials would take centre stage. Giving an existing curtain a new purpose also connects the material choice to the story: appreciating what is already there. In the photography, I deliberately chose precise compositions and straight lines. These reinforce the silhouette and highlight the contrast with the organic rope.