My project has focussed around research on how we use nature to help increase mood, well-being, and mental health particularly within urban environments. Influenced by coronavirus, lockdowns, and the limitations we have had to the outdoors which sometimes can be overlooked, we can be seen to be re-connecting with nature and valuing it much more. Observing the recent growth in this trend has inspired me to delve deeper. Initial research led me to explore how nature is incorporated within urban environments, the rise of allotments, the guerrilla gardening movement and indoor house plants. I have been undeniably fascinated by contrasting themes within urban environments and nature alongside hardwearing clothing, fabrics, buckles, and details we wear to cater to these precious and gentle plants. My research has consisted of exploring various ways we use nature for our personal benefits, visiting local garden centres and plant shops. Furthermore, volunteering at St Anns allotments (a 70-acre green space consisting of private and public gardens within Nottingham city) allowed me to see how the benefits of the green space to the public. Throughout my design development I experimented how I could express the contrast between organic and fragile nature with robust gardening-wear and urban environments I displaced second-hand gardening-wear on the stand to explore silhouette and design details. Additionally, investigating mixing delicate, softer fabric such has organdie with tougher heavier weight ones has allowed me to express this contrast throughout my collection. Overall, throughout my designs I wanted to capture the fragility and importance of nature combined with themes of containment, structure, and urbanisation.
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