Moodboard Images: Top Left, own image taken at Yayoi Kusama exhibition, Victoria Miro Gallery 2021. Central left, image of sundew plant accessed here. Bottom left, image of Giant Waterlily from BBC Green Planet, Series 1, 2022, accessed here. Top right, own image of own drawing. Bottom right: Kevin Germanier’s work accessed here.

Undergrowth takes inspiration from the fascinating parts of nature that often go ignored or unseen, as our focus is taken by the traditionally beautiful plants and flowers that grow above. From this concept I designed a collection of interactive editorial accessories, inspired by insects big and small, as well as their earthy, mossy homelands.

The unique and sculptural accessories are created from my own individual laser cut elements, heat moulded and hand beaded together to allow unique movement in each one. I use recycled/recyclable acrylic, locally sourced scrap leather and second hand beads where possible as well as my own hand dyed/printed/devoré fabrics. The piece above in the centre is inspired by the Corpse Flower; I have beaded in sections of my own spotty devoré fabric to replicate the warty flesh of the flower itself, which aims to attract flies for pollination.

A major inspiration for this project came from ‘Green Planet’, a David Attenborough series on BBC 1 that investigates plants from all around the world, filming them in new and exciting ways to show their behaviour, habits and hunting skills which makes them almost seem like animals. I learned about the Corpse Flower, Giant Water Lily and Sundew plants, all of which have unique and fascinating colours, textures and behaviours, and were great inspirations. I was most excited by the plants and insects that appear strange and alien to us, maybe even those that seem creepy or unsettling. I was able to observe some of these plants myself at Kew Gardens which was also very influential to the project.

This collection has gone on to feature in further collaborative and competitive works such as my Hand & Lock Prize headpiece, Ana Tomical; an editorial shoot directed by Saphron Morgan featured in Noctis Magazine and Maddie Quinn; an editorial shoot directed by Clara Barroso.