Stygnen klär min kropp | Julia Norén Studio

CLOTHING COLLECTION "STYGNEN KLÄR MIN KROPP"

A clothing collection translating poetry, tradition, and identity into form.

Details:
Fashion Design / Textile Research
20 Weeks — 2023/2024
Educational Project: Klädkollektion, Sätergläntan — Institute of Craft and Design
Tools: Procreate, Photoshop, Indesign
Role: Design, Art Direction, Copywriting, Photography, Graphic Design

A Study in traditional construction and contemporary form.

PROCESS

Exploring the anatomy of tradition through pattern and technique.

CONCEPT

Stygnen Klär Min Kropp (“The Stitches Dress My Body”) is a year-long design and research project exploring the meeting point between traditional Swedish garment-making and Japanese textile philosophy.

The work was carried out over the course of one academic year at 50% study pace, allowing time for deep material research and reflective craftsmanship.

"Stygnen Klär Min Kropp" is a clothing and exhibition collection that visualizes a poem — allowing its words to take physical form through the design and craftsmanship of each piece. It examines how clothing has historically communicated a woman’s value, role, and survival within social structures.

The project investigates how inherited techniques, silhouettes, and construction methods carry cultural meaning — and how these can be reinterpreted in a contemporary context through mindful design and making.

PROCESS

The process began with extensive research on historical garments, textile traditions, and cultural symbolism in both Sweden and Japan.

Sketches and toiles were developed to translate these findings into contemporary forms.

Each garment was cut, stitched, and painted by hand, using materials such as naturally tanned cow leather from Tärnsjö Garveri, Swedish sheepskin, silk, wool, cotton, and brass.

The project also included photography, art direction, exhibition design, and the creation of a printed catalogue — presenting the collection as a unified visual and conceptual statement.

RESEARCH

The research phase was extensive and formed the foundation of the entire project. I studied hundreds of historical garments from Swedish folk costume archives and Japanese museum collections, focusing on construction, pattern logic, and wear traces that revealed how garments once moved with the body.

Key areas of exploration included:

Comparative analysis between Swedish hand-sewn techniques and Japanese boro and sashiko traditions.
Measurement and pattern reconstruction from garments dated several centuries back.
Studies of material durability, seam placement, and modular garment logic.
Documentation of historical sewing methods and hand-finishing techniques.

This research created a dialogue between two craft traditions that both honor longevity, imperfection, and the tactile intelligence of the hand.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Reconstructing heritage through the language of making.

The concept grew from the idea of the body being both dressed and defined by its stitches — every seam a visible memory of labor and intention.

Through sketching, material sampling, and iterative testing, the collection evolved as a study in structure, restraint, and rhythm.

Sketches were used to interpret traditional silhouettes into new proportions, while toiles were developed to explore volume, mobility, and the relationship between body and fabric. The result became a collection where each piece embodies both heritage and individuality — a continuation rather than a reproduction of tradition.

PROCESS

Where the past is sewn into the present.

Archival Study: Measured and documented historical garments and construction details.
Sketching & Conceptual Work: Developed visual direction, color palette, and form language.
Pattern Development: Translated traditional measurements into modern pattern logic.
Toile Construction: Built several prototypes in muslin to refine proportions and movement.
Final Garment Production: Sewed a complete collection by hand and machine using natural fibers and traditional sewing methods.
Art Direction & Photography: Styled and photographed the final pieces, directing the visual narrative to emphasize material honesty and emotional depth.
Exhibition Design: Curated a spatial presentation that merged garments, process material, and documentation into one cohesive installation.

RESULT

The exhibition presented the garments alongside sketches, technical drawings, moodboard, A4 booklet, and textile samples, emphasizing the physical dialogue between body, thread, and time.

REFLECTION

Every stitch carries a story.