Spending time outside and exploring nature is an essential part of life for my family and me. It was during a family woodland excursion in early autumn we thought we’d try our luck and find mushrooms to pick.
Keeping our eyes glued to the ground, we spotted a blue scarab beetle instead. We watched it scurrying around the terrain for a long time. When I started to photograph it, I became captivated by the colours and textures I was surrounded by. It’s also incredible how nature captivates us and can in very simple ways entertain us, especially our children Over time, the Beetles collection was slowly developed from this special day.
I chose to create a collection complimentary in theme, colour, and tonality. It includes playful organic children's clothes and tranquil nature images made as limited edition prints and special greeting cards. I also love the feel of art, so I decided to include a tactile experience with the photography gift box.
After our excursion, I envisioned bringing nature home and convey earthy tones and natural textures inside. From the photographs, I created the minimalistic blue and rust-brown beetle’s fabric print. Living in a big city, I wanted the clothes to be contemporary and urban yet natural and timeless. Last winter, I had a period where I became captivated by the beauty of dried plants and flowers and the aesthetics they provide all year round if you look at them with an open mind. I somehow found a connection between the clothes and the images, how captivating the subjects can be when looking closely at them.
My vision was to create a collection of clothes and photography art with small carbon footprints. I wanted to include only natural, renewable materials that have a chance to biodegrade and be recycled, thus not contributing to plastic pollution. However, the materials used in the collection come from borrowed resources and are far from limitless, including the time and effort in perfecting every detail. With that in mind, I dream of a world where we consume our valuables until worn out: because I want to continue inspecting beetles with my children and hope for the same possibility for generations to come.
Creating the Beetle's collection is an homage to time and resources, which are limited to all of us.
Take care!
Hannah
xxx