Humble: adjective. Not proud, of low rank, poor.
Hustle: verb. To strive ferociously for a goal, whatever the cost.
This collection serves as a monument for the people at the borders of our society and the hustle to overcome their situation. “From rags to riches” is deeply rooted in our capitalist society. The paradox in this principle is beautifully illustrated by hustlers doing whatever it takes to live the high life, to be the riches. To form an ecological statement against overconsumption, I reversed this principle to “from riches to rags.” This creates a story which expresses the paradox of fighting to make a living, while having way too high living standards, culminating in a humble yet satisfied existence.
To put this concept into material, this collection is mostly up-cycled from clothes that I gathered at local recycling companies. A wide range of clothes was procured, from old jeans and t-shirts to a wedding dress. I forced myself to create something from the materials I had, meaning I had to find different techniques to up-cycle. To me, this is the key element of the hustle. At the same time, I underline the idea of being a humble hustler, which means striving forward in live, but with an awareness and respect towards your community and surroundings.
My collection is placed at the borders of this industry, just like the characters it portrays. The collection tries to challenge people's views on sociological issues and the principle our nowadays system is based on. It is made for everyone who does not want to conform and has a critical view on themself and society.
The Moral to the story is:
Your addiction to your needs and your wants,
is what causes problems in your life.
Make sure you got what you need.
Put at a safe distance all the things that you want.
It's wants that get you into trouble.
-KRS One
