BOREAL: AN HOMAGE TO NORWAY
2021 COLLECTION

I began this collection in January 2021 while at home with my family during the pandemic. Craving ways to venture out, I delved into a random assortment of documentaries, podcasts, and books that brought me to new places, times, and aesthetics. I began to wonder how I connect to different cultures apart from the one I was immersed in at home. From my grandmother, I learned about Finn Winger, my great-great-grandfather who immigrated to the U.S. From Norway in 1898. I began to study Norway’s history, rich folk traditions, and its dramatic landscapes. This fascination provoked narratives, connections, and questions that I explored as I made these garments.

TELEMARK ENSEMBLE
1/12
Silk, textured satin, cord, vintage Norwegian stamps

Each region in Norway has its own Bunad design. This one draws from elements of the female Telemark Bunad, where my ancestors lived.

HARDANGER ENSEMBLE
2/12
Various satins, silk, organza, stamps, buttons, ribbon, cord 

I created this piece using a collection of aesthetically similar Norwegian inspired relics and materials. The bodice references the unique neckline and color of the traditional folkwear, the “Bunad”, worn by women in the Hardanger Region in western Norway.

THE GOLDEN BIRD GOWN
3/12
Silk, fabric paint, braided cord

 This gown follows the traditional lines of Norwegian underskirts and blouses. The textile includes hand-painted and embroidered motifs from a well-known folk tale circulated in Norway about three princes in pursuit of a golden bird. 

MAP JACKET
4/12
Textured satin, paper, vintage Norwegian stamps, vintage Norwegian map cover 

This jacket symbolizes the connection between Finn and his family after he immigrated to The United States. The pleated paper and stamps represent the letters they sent back and forth. A vintage map completes the back.

ARTIFACT VEST ENSEMBLE
5/12
Silk, organza, ribbon, fringe, paint, beads, shells, cord, fur, embroidery, vintage Norwegian stamps  

This ensemble was created with another collection of aesthetically similar Norwegian inspired relics and materials. The lines of the vest are based on a traditional male garment.

COASTLINE DRESS
6/12
Taffeta, tulle, ribbon, yarn, tissue paper, shells, buttons

I created this piece to explore a synesthetic experience I had between the Finnmark coastline, and the song “Innocent Bones” by Iron and Wine. To me, this stark coastline and lilting song mirror one anothers’ layers and textures.

AERIAL VIEW SET 1
7/12
 Satin, silk, organza, cord

I explored the island of Svalbard via Google Earth. I was struck by the undulating and organic look of their mountains from above. I experimented with different ways to represent it, and settled on a combination of ruching and embroidery. I loved the idea that this new perspective could reveal a different understanding of texture.

AERIAL VIEW SET 2
8/12
Satin, silk, organza, cord

I continued to explore this perspective and technique, this time applying it to a traditional folk jacket silhouette.

SPIRAL PLEAT DRESS
9/12
Organza, synthetic blend, braided thread

I conceptualized this dress through draping, experimenting with how I could bring organic shapes into a pleated textile. The neckline is a dramatization of the standard high neck under dresses and shirts in both womenswear and menswear.

PTARMIGAN ENSEMBLE
10/12
Satin, silk, ribbon, eyelash yarn, gold thread 

I learned about the Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan in a nature documentary. I became fixated on this delicate and resilient bird. I love how it survives extreme cold and has a beautiful texture that I emulated in the pleats of these garments.

QUILT COAT
11/12
Organza, satin, chiffon, ribbon, eyelash yarn 

This piece represents an image that formed in my mind of a woman sewing a quilt during the harsh Norwegian winter. Outside her window, she sees the icy shades of snow and coast.

STAMP SET
12/12
Wool, embroidery thread, gold cord, vintage Norwegian stamps 

I thought of running through the snow at my grandparents’ log cabin in rural Wisconsin. In my mind, a parallel vision formed of Finn bounding through the snow as a child in Norway, where he danced, jumped, and tumbled. I wanted to create a set that reflected this energy and joy. I took inspiration from the lines and hand embroidery found in traditional Norwegian men’s winter coats. I incorporated vintage Norwegian stamps into the textile, to symbolize a connection point between these two visions.