My BA graduate collection – PARIADE – for spring/summer 2016 is inspired by the avian family PARADISAEIDAE, the birds of paradise. With the age of only four years I was fascinated by these birds and their appearance and disguised myself in a hand-made costume that was embellished all over. I basically wore it throughout my whole childhood.

Although I no longer disguise myself I kept the bird of paradise alive in myself and with my graduate collection I am putting it out. As main Inspiration I used the mating dance behaviour of these birds and the elaborate display. The way the birds move and show themselves in this ritual is very exclusive and special as they almost perform with special feathers and colours, but also various ornaments and body transformations that cannot be found in any other bird family. The mystery behind the bird of paradise is more alive than ever as all the elaborateness in their dance and appearance that goes far beyond the necessity cannot be completely explained by scientists.

In my collection the dense feather structure is interpreted as plissé that is able to move in the same flowing way as the bird‘s feathers. The shine of the feathers is referred to with the use of different embroidery material mixing together plastic and glass pearls with Swarovski stones and plexi glass shapes. The reflecting plexi glass shapes are custom designed and laser-cut and are meant as graphic allusions to the lesser bird of paradise and its feathers. The way the embroidery is placed on the garments should convey the movement of the birds.

The three-dimensional sleeve shapes in the collection are inspired by the various body transformations the birds display in which the spectator has to view the transformation from different angles to understand all the shapes created. The bird of paradise shows a natural elegance and is very exclusive in its appearance as these birds are only to be found on the exotic island New Guinea which led my collection into a very exlusive fIeld of fashion with almost haute couture-like garments and silhouettes. Personally the bird of paradise represents a strong ambition to always be better than your competitor and a good feeling for your own body and appearance. It is possible to be very flamboyant and eye-catching but nevertheless extravagant and elegant. This is what I want to give the woman wearing my collection. She can stand out in a positive way.