2020 Avant-garde dress about fear, isolation and aggression

An avant-garde dress that represents a society between uncertainty, fear, isolation, and aggression. A dress over multiple crises and the simultaneity of events. About escalation and division, the looming “Next-Big-Thing,” and the end of illusions.

Since at least 2020, we have been experiencing a profound transformation of our world, marked by uncertainty, fear, and anger. These collective emotions have become entrenched in our social life and manifest in many different ways. They lead to isolation and aggression, and at the same time, we are witnessing an escalation of tensions, culminating in divisions within our society. Our 2020 dress captures this complex and somber reality, standing as a symbol for the state of our society.

The challenges we have faced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are so numerous we could hardly list them all. The global health crisis has not only shaken our confidence in the stability and reliability of our lives but also exposed systemic weaknesses that had long been hidden. The health threat was accompanied by a profound economic downturn, leaving its mark in unemployment, financial insecurity, and an ever-widening gap between rich and poor.

In a society already groaning under the strain of social inequalities, these crises have exacerbated existing problems. Social tensions have increased, and the sense of solidarity that prevailed at the beginning of the pandemic has given way to an atmosphere of mistrust and hostility. Masks have become symbols of political allegiance.

But it is not only the immediate health and economic crises that challenge our resilience. Simultaneously, we are experiencing a climate crisis of unprecedented magnitude, whose devastating effects are becoming increasingly undeniable. Wildfires in California, floods in Europe, and heatwaves in Asia – natural disasters are piling up, and we are frozen in fear like a rabbit before a snake. The fear of the next natural event that could upheave our lives is pervasive.

The silence screams so loud

In addition to the visible catastrophes, there is a seemingly silent crisis that often only registers as a footnote in public discourse: the mental health crisis. Isolation, uncertainty, and the constant threat of new crises are taking their toll. Many people are increasingly exhausted and overwhelmed, with emotional and psychological wounds often remaining invisible. This isolation and sense of helplessness can spiral into an emotional vortex, leading to aggression and escalation. Around the world, we are witnessing a rise in violence, whether in the form of urban riots, domestic violence, political radicalization, or wars.

In an era so deeply marked by uncertainty and fear, traditional notions and illusions are also being questioned. The idea of continuous progress and growing prosperity is increasingly challenged. Trust in democratic institutions and the media, once pillars of our society, is eroding. Populism and extremism are gaining ground, and the chasm between different social groups is widening.

The thorn within us

These multiple crises, the simultaneous events that destabilize our stability over and over, challenge our endurance and adaptability. In the avant-garde dress, we have attempted to capture these realities with all their complex emotions and challenges. The dark material reveals the thorns embedded within us, the brokenness and fragmentation. We are chalk white.

These are our feelings that we express through the dress.

Dress is made-to-measure only