In creating this collection, I found inspiration in the sunsets over the mountains of New Hampshire, and the cyclical resetting and opportunity for renewal that they represent. The visual language of this collection all intends to evoke the same feelings of calm, peace, and slowness that these sunsets have provided me, as well as to portray a feeling of acceptance of the change that comes with the transition from one day to the next through the progression of the looks.
The color story of the collection takes the most direct visual inspiration from New Hampshire sunsets. Each of the four looks has been hand-dyed to match as closely as possible to colors pulled directly from photos of several sunsets I have taken over the years.
The fabrics, an array of various cottons pulled from traditional men’s workwear also capture some of the textures of the water, mountains, and sky within my reference photos. The sky-blue cotton ripstop puffer was inspired by the clouds which slowly drift across the sky as the sun begins to set, followed by the orange glow which fills the horizon, as depicted by the orange moleskin outfit. The moleskin fabric was picked for its softness, to create a feeling of relaxation while also expressing the softness of the natural environment. The waxing of the purple cotton canvas of the next look creates a subtle sheen which mirrors the reflections of the water on a calm night. Finally, the navy crinkled linen-cotton blend mimics the visual texture of the pine trees covering the mountains across Squam Lake, which turn a navy blue as the sun falls behind them.
The patterns of each of the four jackets, as well as the pants which all four looks share, put a twist on traditional menswear silhouettes to give them a more androgynous feel, while simultaneously drawing inspiration from the visual language of my source imagery. Each of the four jackets features a soft undefined shoulder, meant to mimic rolling mountains across the lake, with added paneling both below and above the arm, cut on the bias, to create a boxier fit while adding a small amount of stretch for added comfort. The necklines on each jacket progressively climb up the shoulders and neck, representing an acceptance and embrace of the change initiated by the setting sun.
.JPG)
