Monastic Garments
Inspiration drawn from mythical figures of medieval catholic saints gives birth to uniforms for the Cultural Monastery 2026 program within the walls of Mediamatic, Amsterdam.
Soft wools and airy muslins intertwine with stones and metals, quietly telling the centuries old stories of important monastic figures. The binding belt of Saint Dymphna, the heavy pendant of Saint Hildegard’s wisdom, the birdlike cloak of Saint Francis and the key to Saint Barbara’s tower come together as hypothetical artefacts of their power. They act as transistors meant to ignite the wearer’s creativity by the act of separating oneself from their stressful environment – which is putting on a costume.
The garments are made entirely of white wools and cottons, woven with glass, coral, pearls and lava rock, and finally embellished by hand made and cast aluminium ornaments. The material choice is a translation of purity of the characters indirectly depicted. The weeks spent on crafting them by the hands moving in repetitive motions became a meditation, which in turn imbues costumes with unique qualities – passed onto their wearer.
