“The World In Between” is a visual research about a world in between living and dying. By telling my story and my perspective about death, I create a new world where people can find safety and calm within this subject. I challenge the concept of death in a way that it’s not harsh or negative, but it has a silver lining. There is something beautiful to be found in such a tragedy. Each piece expresses itself like poetry, as if you are never alone. By choosing to see beyond the intangible, we can communicate with the deceased. We never lose a person – as long as you are alive, they stay alive within you.
Someone doesn't just die – they live on. It’s just a different way of living.
The Spirit Dress
Within this abstract concept you see the Spirit Dress, the dress mimics how a spirit shows itself. When standing (or hovering) still, you won't see my mothers face on the skirt, yet when it moves, the face reveals itself. Apart from the face, when moving, the fabric glides, it moves unnaturally. This character of the skirt reinforces its story. The dress is more than just a dress. The spirit can only be observed when it wants to. This garment was inspired by my experiences with mediums, spirits and stories from my friends/family. The face on the skirt is neutral. A spirit lets go of its earthly emotions, so it was only fitting to use this image.
The Rebirth
I’ve researched the option of the return of physical communication. What happens then? My mother believed we would be reunited in a next life. We’ve been mother and daughter or sisters before, so we will be again. The Rebirth explores this possibility. Its colour, purple, has been linked with spirituality, it has been the only colour in the collection. The other garments have purple, but only as lining fabric. Here, the dress fully explores the colour. Life is chaotic, so is this dress, nothing is truly straight, yet everything has been intentionally added. The ultrasound hangs above the womb. Showing the next stage.
Symbolising a new life and such concluding the last.
The Rembrandt Jacket
When a person dies, you can find solace in the clothes of the deceased. This jacket has been reinterpreted by a cardigan my mother used to wear almost daily. Loved ones called this cardigan the Rebrandt. A big warm cardigan gives the wearer a sense of protection, just like how I would wear this after her death, to feel more connected.
The issue with wearing someone's clothing when they have passed is that even though you feel closer, it is just an illusion. The person has still passed and is not physically there. The jacket looks big and warm, yet is transparent and cold.
The Rembrandt Dress
This dress has a reinterpreted pattern of my mothers cardigan. It is a corseted dress that restricts you in your movement. Although the knitted material makes it seem like it can give you a sense of warmth, it doesn't. Enhancing the narrative of wearing a loved one's clothing.
The Medallion Suit
Just like a piece of clothing, people wear jewellery to feel close to a deceased person. It is an age-old tradition. Instead of literally visualising the jewellery, I created a pattern from the medallion that I wear every single day. It has been engraved onto leather. By not just wearing the piece, but actually embodying the jewellery.
Leather engraved with the pattern of my medallion
The Abyss Jacket & Dress
The fabric of these garments tell the story. It originated from solving the problem of the amount of left over little pieces of fabric from my project. Organza is a very see-through material. By sewing these together you create a sense of depth. The texture of the fabric almost brings you into another dimension. As if you are searching in the unknown for said loved one.
The World In Between - Creative Director: Mila Dijkstra - Styling: Muckie Mara - Photography: Ilaya Lek - Production: Malaya Production - Model: Vigilija Pikelyte - Model: Talise Stevens - Make-up: Ekta Vadher - Clothing Design: Verena (Mila Dijkstra) - Headwear: Chiem Hoftijzer